Final answer:
The reflexive movement for viewing close objects is the accommodation-convergence reflex, involving both convergence of the eyes and accommodation changes of the lens. This essential eye function can be assessed through vision tests and may require correction as we age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reflexive movement of both eyes medically to view objects close to us is known as the accommodation-convergence reflex. This involves a coordinated change in the positioning and focusing of the eyes when looking at near objects. The skeletal muscles of the eyes execute the convergence movement by turning both eyes inward, while the smooth muscles in the ciliary body adjust the lens of the eye for accommodation, changing its focal power to maintain a clear image.
As objects approach our face, the medial recti muscles act to adduct the eyes (convergence), and the lens shape is altered via the parasympathetic fibers of the oculomotor nerve (accommodation). This ability to focus on nearby objects can decline with age, potentially requiring corrective lenses.
Vision tests often assess these reflexive movements by instructing a patient to follow a moving object, such as the tip of a pen, as it is brought close to the face. Proper function of eye muscles and neural pathways is indicated by the eyes' coordinated movements. When the eyes do not move together appropriately, this may lead to diplopia, or double vision, highlighting an issue with the involved extraocular muscles or neural connections.