In the art of seeing, convergence and divergence are the two fundamental concepts that govern how our eyes adjust to focus on objects at varying distances.

Convergence is the term used to describe the eye's ability to focus on a nearby object. This phenomenon occurs when the eyes move inwards, with both pupils converging towards a common point.

Conversely, divergence is the opposite process, allowing us to shift our focus from a nearby object to one that is more distant. During divergence, the eyes move outward, away from each other.

Central to these processes are the remarkable structures within the eye, including the lens and the ciliary muscles, which are the muscles that encircle the lens. The interaction between the muscles and the lens results in the change of the lens’ curvature. The process is known as accommodation.

So what happens as we look up close? During the process of convergence the ciliary muscles contract, which forces the lens to increase its curvature and therefore its refractive power. This means that it can bend incoming light rays more strongly, and focus them onto the retina. 

Then, when the eye looks into the distance, the opposite happens. The ciliary muscles relax, which allows the lens to flatten, to become thinner and less curved. That decreases its refractive power, which means that it bends the incoming light rays less strongly.

Without the proper lens adjustment, the light does not fall onto the retina and therefore clear seeing is not possible. Improving your ability to converge and diverge will therefore bring you a step closer to clear seeing at new distances. Chances are that if you cannot see clearly up close, your converging skills need to be practiced. And if you have difficulty with distant vision, you need to re-learn how to diverge. With that said, as many other factors are in play, practice both, no matter what your condition. Spend more time on the skill that is less easy to perform.

 

LET’S PRACTICE

 

To practice accommodation, we will be using the technique of turning two dots into three and we will be working with the Verging Dots Practice Sheet. The goal of this technique is to have your eyes converge or diverge to the level when you can create a third circle, right in between the original two and horizontally aligned with the original two circles. You will need a pointer to guide your gaze.

 
 
 

CONVERGING

Place a Verging Dots training sheet at your eye level and about 12 inches away from your face or at a distance where the dots are clear or the least blurry. 

Place your pointer between the two green circles and between your eyes and the training sheet.

  • Softly look at the tip of your pointer and adjust the pointer’s distance from the training sheet, so that your eyes can create a third circle

  • As you look at the pointer, exhale and let the original circles slide apart to their respective sides in order to create space for the third one right in the middle. Then let the new circle appear

  • When you create the new circle, study it. What does the circle look like? Are its edges sharp or fuzzy? How bright is the new circle’s color relative to the original two? Is the new circle closer to you than the other two circles? Is it further away? Is it at the same distance?

  • Very well. If you have seen a sharp green circle, repeat the process a few more times to get a deeper experience, to develop a better skill. Then do the same with the following set of circles, that are positioned slightly more apart

  • Look into the distance to relax your eyes during and after the practice

Practice Shields: none

Tips & Watchouts:

  • If you are looking at the chart from a distance at which the original circles are blurry, it is likely that your new circle will also be blurry. That is OK for now.

  • If you cannot create the third circle, use your imagination to do so

  • Keep adjusting the position of your pointer and the distance of the chart to help yourself make the third circle for the first time

  • If the third circle appears on either side of the original two circles, use your imagination to change it. It must appear in between the original two circles

  • Are your circles not leveled? Check the position of your head. Are you tilting your head, looking slightly sideways?

Downloadable Resources:

Verging Dots Practice Sheet

 
 

DIVERGING

Diverging is practiced in a way similar to converging with one major difference, which is the focus of your gaze. Instead of focusing close in, you will focus into the distance, look through the dots, through the paper.

Place your pointer between the two green circles and BEHIND the training sheet. Let the tip of the pointer peek just above the page, or imagine looking through the page at the pointer.

  • Exhale and let the third circle appear

  • When you create the new circle, study it. What does the circle look like? Are its edges sharp or fuzzy? How bright is the new circle’s color relative to the original two? Is the new circle closer to you than the other two circles? Is it further away? Is it at the same distance? How different is it from the circle you had created through converging?

  • Very well. If you have seen a sharp green circle, repeat the process a few more times to get a deeper experience, to develop a better skill. Then do the same with the red and eventually blue circles

  • Look into the distance to relax your eyes during and after the practice, palm, swing or sway, whatever you like best

Practice Shields: none

Tips & Watchouts:

  • Fold the paper just above the green circles and place the tip of your pointer right above the page to make it easier to see the pointer

  • If it is too difficult to look through the page, even when folded, print your practice sheet on a clear slide (i.e. an old school projector slide - as shown in the picture), or copy the circles onto a clear or translucent folder with a sharpie. You will then be able to see the pointer through the clear slide.

 
 

HOW TO KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE CONVERGING OR DIVERGING

When converging, the third circle appears to be further away from your face than the other two. It also often appears to be brighter, with its color being more saturated.

When diverging, the third circle appears to be closer in, coming towards you.