What does an increase in eye convergence signify?

An increase in eye convergence signifies that the eyes are turning inward to focus on a nearby object. This physiological response is an essential part of the eye's accommodation process, allowing for clear vision at close distances. When a person looks at something close, the brain signals the eye muscles to contract, causing both eyes to converge. This inward movement is necessary to maintain binocular vision and depth perception for objects that are not far away.

The other options don’t accurately reflect the physiological mechanism of convergence. Looking at a far object typically requires the eyes to diverge rather than converge, which is the opposite of what happens when focusing on something close. Strain in the eye can occur in various circumstances but is not directly signified by an increase in convergence; it rather indicates discomfort often associated with prolonged focus without proper breaks or adjustments. Normal eye relaxation would generally refer to a neutral state when not fixating on nearby objects, again contrasting with the active muscular engagement seen during convergence.