Normative values for jump convergence among young adults

Jump convergence is an expression of the quality of ocular convergence at play when binocular visual focus moves quickly from a distant target to a near target in a jump/phasic motion. It is also known as saccadic or phasic convergence and is regarded as a measure of the adaptability and reflex control of the binocular vergence mechanism. Jump convergence ability is vital in binocular vision assessments and it is of critical importance as a training protocol in rehabilitative vision therapy. Practically, the demand for jump convergence closely mirrors typical viewing situations where fixation is continually shifting between near and far targets, making jump convergence ability important for everyday tasks. This study assessed the jump convergence ability of a sample size of 170 young adults aged 16 – 30 years, within the Imo State University, Owerri campus, in order to determine normative values of jump convergence among young adults with normal binocularity. The jump convergence for each participant was assessed using the test target of size N6 and the results were analysed by descriptive statistics to determine the normative value of jump convergence for the age group. The mean jump convergence for the sample size was determined as 39.58 cpm (std. dev = 8.241), 40.13 cpm (std. dev = 8.51) for the male and 39.03 cpm (std. dev = 8.06) for females. The study concludes that the normative jump convergence among the sample size is 39.58cpm (+8.241) and recommends further studies on normative values for jump convergence among young adults of other extractions.