What is the effect on a minus lens when it is moved closer to the eye?

When a minus lens is moved closer to the eye, the perceived power of the lens increases. This is due to the way lenses bend light. A minus lens, which diverges light rays, has a focal point where parallel rays of light will diverge if they pass through the lens. By moving the lens closer to the eye, the effective distance from the eye to the lens is reduced, altering the way the rays converge or diverge before reaching the retina.

As the lens gets closer, more light rays enter the eye and are diverged more rapidly. This leads to a greater amount of divergence as perceived by the eye, effectively increasing the power of the lens for the viewer. This phenomenon is related to the principles of optics and how our visual system interprets light as it passes through lenses.

While other choices imply that the power either decreases, remains constant, or becomes unclear, these do not accurately describe the fundamental optical principles at play when the distance between a lens and the eye is altered.