divergence

divergence /di·ver·gence/ (di-ver´jens) a moving apart, or inclination away from a common point.diver´gent

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di·ver·gence (d-vûrjns, d-)

n.

1. A moving or spreading apart in different directions from a common point.

2. The degree by which things deviate or spread apart.

3. A turning of both eyes outward from a common point or of one eye when the other is fixed.

4. The spreading of branches of the neuron to form synapses with several other neurons.

5. The evolutionary process by which organisms descended from a common ancestor tend to acquire different forms when living under different conditions.

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di·vergent adj.

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divergence

[divur′jəns]

Etymology: L, di + vergere, to incline

a separation or movement of objects away from each other, as in the simultaneous turning of the eyes outward as a result of an extraocular muscle defect.

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divergence

a moving apart, or inclination away from a common point.

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divergence

1. Movement of the eyes turning away from each other. 2. Characteristic of a pencil of light rays, as when emanating from a point source. Syn. negative convergence. See vergence.
divergence excess A high exophoria at distance associated with a much lower exophoria at near. It may occasionally give rise to diplopia in distance vision.
fusional divergence A movement of the eyes away from each other in response to retinal disparity, in order to restore single binocular vision. It occurs most commonly when induced by a base-in prism.
divergence insufficiency A high esophoria at distance associated with esophoria at near. It often gives rise to symptoms of asthenopia in both distance and near vision.
divergence paralysis See divergence paralysis.
vertical divergence Relative vertical movement between the two eyes.