A lens is a transparent object, usually made of glass or plastic, that bends light to help us see better. Lenses are commonly found in items like glasses, cameras, and microscopes. They can be shaped in various ways, such as convex (curving outward) or concave (curving inward), which affects how they focus light. When light passes through a lens, it changes direction, allowing us to magnify images or correct vision. For example, a magnifying glass uses a convex lens to enlarge small objects, while eyeglasses use lenses to help people with vision problems see clearly.