The frequency of saccades in relation to convergence and divergence dynamics

During symmetrical vergence movements, saccades are frequently observed. This research tests the hypothesis that the brain initiates a saccade to facilitate a vergence movement when it has slower dynamics. This study analyzes the frequency of saccades in four healthy controls during near and far ranges for both convergence and divergence movements. The experiment suggests that the frequency of saccades is related to vergence dynamics because divergence at far ranges (slower movements) has a greater occurrence of saccades than divergence at near ranges (faster movements). Conversely, during convergence, subjects have a greater frequency of saccades in near ranges (slower movements) than in far ranges (faster movements). This study therefore implies that the eye may have the tendency to saccade more frequently in order to compensate for slow vergence potentially to speed target recognition over binocular fusion.