Article Outline Converging lenses, Diverging lenses Compound lenses. Lens Lens is a piece of transparent material that has at least one curved surface. The images may be larger, smaller, or the same size as the object itself. Scientists sometimes use lenses to concentrate or spread a beam of light.
Lenses are an important part of eyes.
They enable the eyes to form sharp images of near and distant objects. Lenses in the form of glasses and contact lenses are used to correct imperfections in eyesight. They are also a key part of binoculars, cameras, microscopes, projectors, telescopes, and many other devices. Artificial lenses are made of various transparent materials, such as glass, plastic, or crystals. Quartz crystals are used to refract ultraviolet light, which has a very short wavelength.