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The astigmatic clock is a valuable tool in ophthalmology specifically designed to indicate the orientation of astigmatism in the eye. Astigmatism arises from an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, which results in varying optical power in different meridians. The astigmatic clock provides a visual reference for the clinician to determine the axis of the steepest and flattest meridians in the cornea.

By using the astigmatic clock, practitioners can effectively measure and mark the orientation of astigmatism, which is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and treatment, including the fitting of corrective lenses or planning for surgical interventions. The other options do not relate directly to the function of the astigmatic clock: optical power refers to the strength of the eye's lenses, corneal thickness pertains to the physical dimensions of the cornea, and pupil size is a measurement related to light entering the eye and is not associated with astigmatism orientation.