Convergence in Ophthalmology

Convergence in ophthalmology is the process by which the visual axes of both eyes converge on one object, allowing us to see that object clearly and clearly. This is an important skill that helps us navigate space and interact with the world around us.

Convergence is a natural function of our body. When we look at an object, our eyes begin to move in the direction of that object and then converge at one point. This process occurs automatically and does not require the participation of consciousness.

However, some people may have convergence disorder. This can occur due to various reasons such as eye injuries, eye diseases or neurological disorders. In such cases, the help of an ophthalmologist is necessary.

In ophthalmology, there are several methods for diagnosing convergence. One is the convergence test, which measures how well the eyes can converge on an object. Another method is an eye refractive test, which helps determine if there are problems focusing your vision.

Convergence correction may be necessary if the eyes cannot converge well enough to see clearly. In this case, your doctor may recommend glasses or contact lenses to help improve your vision.

It is also important to remember that convergence is not only a function of the eyes, but of the entire body as a whole. Therefore, to maintain healthy eyes and the body as a whole, you need to monitor your posture, eat right and exercise.

Convergence is a physiological process that is key to the perception of depth, size, shape and distance to objects. In ophthalmology, this concept is used to describe the process of adaptation of the eye to near and far perspective, as well as to define the mechanisms that are involved in this process.

Normally, convergence and accommodation are controlled by the oculomotor apparatus, which consists of three muscles: the external sphincter, external and internal oblique muscles. Their reduction makes the gaze constantly directed at the object, thereby ensuring clear focus of the gaze. In addition, the angle between the pupils varies from 75 to 40 degrees, preventing double vision or defocus. However, if a person has an imbalance, for example, strabismus, then a problem arises - the eyes do not converge on the object, which leads to discomfort and incorrect perception of space.

Convergence and accommodation are related to balancing the movements of the eyeballs. Convergence, as mentioned earlier, produces the fusion of the pupils into one point when the eyes are brought closer to the distance to the object - about 50 degrees. If the eyes are at a greater distance from each other, then they diverge, and the angle of convergence is 20-30 degrees. When we look at a nearby object, the transverse size of which is small, the pupils gather near one point at a distance of 133 cm from us.

In other words, when we look at a close object, our eyes automatically converge in the shape of the letter "O". In this case, the angle between their optical axes (points of intersection with the retina) can be very small, since two parallel straight lines at this distance are quite close to each other. Because of this feature, the eye sees the shape, size and depth of an object that is close to us, without losing its clarity. A distant object is surrounded by a shadowy peripheral visual field, and its image appears due to the accommodative structure of the eye. The concentration of our gaze during depth perception is formed under the control of accommodation