What does 'distortion' refer to in relation to lens aberration?

Distortion in relation to lens aberration primarily refers to the phenomenon where the shape of images is altered when viewed through a lens, particularly as the gaze moves away from the optical center. Specifically, this means that straight lines may appear curved or warped, which can create an unnatural or distorted view of the object being observed. This happens due to the increased prism effect that occurs in lens optics; as the gaze shifts away from the optical center, the light rays do not converge at the intended focal point anymore.

Option B accurately describes this aspect of distortion in lenses, emphasizing the role that the lens design and positioning play in how light is refracted, leading to visual distortions.

Other options focus on other forms of aberrations, such as blurring, which means loss of sharpness; a shift in the position of light rays, which relates more closely to displacement effects rather than distortion; and dispersion, which involves the separation of light into its constituent colors, rather than the actual shape distortion of objects seen through the lens.