Which functionality does NOT decrease with age?

The functionality that does not decrease with age is the ciliary muscle contraction for accommodation. While it is true that accommodation becomes less effective in older individuals, the actual ability of the ciliary muscle to contract does not significantly diminish with age. The decrease in accommodation is primarily due to changes in the lens, such as increased stiffness and reduced elasticity, rather than a reduction in the muscular contraction itself.

On the other hand, aqueous production tends to decrease with age, which can lead to a higher risk of developing glaucoma. The alpha crystallins in the lens play a crucial role in maintaining lens transparency, but their overall function is also impacted by age-related changes in the lens. Lastly, the corneal endothelial cell count typically decreases with age, leading to a higher likelihood of corneal edema and other complications. Understanding these distinctions is key in the study of ocular physiology and aging processes.