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vergence

Vergence is the disjunctive movement of the eyes in which the visual axes move toward each other, in convergence, or away from each other, in divergence.1 Versions turn both eyes in the same direction, and vergences turn the eyes in opposite directions. Vergences are slow movements, made as part of the near synkinesis or to improve alignment for sensory fusion.2

Three main cues drive convergence during near vision: proximity, disparity and accommodation. The proximal cue is the most powerful, and its size varies between individuals.3 Asymmetrical convergence consists of a saccade and a vergence movement, although smooth convergence without a saccade can be elicited under certain conditions.4

More detail

Fusional vergence amplitudes are measured with prisms of increasing power before one eye while the patient views an accommodation-controlling target. The break point is the prism power at which the patient reports doubling or the examiner sees strabismus appear, and fusion usually recovers within 2 to 4 prism diopters of the break point.2 Base-out prism tests fusional convergence and base-in prism tests fusional divergence. The patient reports target blur, which signals that accommodative convergence is helping fusion.2

Sources (26)
  1. Care of the Patient with Accommodative and Vergence Dysfunction (AOA guideline), glossary
  2. Yanoff and Duker, Ophthalmology (2023), ch. 11
  3. Pickwell's Binocular Vision Anomalies, ch. 7
  4. von Noorden and Campos, Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility, ch. 4
  5. Leigh, R. and Zee, D. (2015). The Neurology of Eye Movements. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
  6. Rutstein, R. and Daum, K. (1997). Anomalies of Binocular Vision: Diagnosis & Management. St. Louis: Mosby.
  7. Scheiman, M. and Wick, B. (2014). Clinical Management of Binocular Vision. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  8. Schor, C. (1996). Binocular Vision and Stereopsis. New York: Oxford University Press.
  9. von Noorden, G. and Campos, E. (2002). Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility. 6th ed. St. Louis: Mosby.
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  11. PubMed: 9305842
  12. Wolters Kluwer journal: Objective_Assessment_of_Disparity_Vergence_after.2.aspx
  13. Oxford Academic: 189897581
  14. PubMed Central: PMC6365649
  15. PubMed Central: PMC7880129
  16. spie.org: fg04_p14_vergence
  17. ScienceDirect: S1888429618300323
  18. PubMed Central: PMC5122972
  19. Nature: s41598-019-53902-y
  20. Oxford Academic: 355225201
  21. PubMed: 11240934
  22. American Academy of Ophthalmology: bcscsnippetdetail.aspx?id=4bf08fcd-614b-490c-affa-e6170e128d
  23. American Optometric Association: Care%20of%20Patient%20with%20Accommodative%20and%20Vergence%
  24. PubMed: 1565431
  25. Oxford Academic: 144221776?redirectedFrom=fulltext
  26. schorlab.berkeley.edu: chapter_19.html secondary

Reviewed October 2026

Related terms

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← vectogramvergence facility →
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