> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gaborpatchpractice.gitbook.io/gaborpatchpractice-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gaborpatchpractice.gitbook.io/gaborpatchpractice-docs/faq.md).

# FAQ

## Frequently Asked Questions

***

### 1. How Far Should I Sit from the Screen?

Our program has an adaptive mechanism. You can find a comfortable distance that works for you.

#### 1.1 Why No Fixed Distance?

Because everyone's visual condition is different:

* Amblyopic eye corrected vision may range from 0.1 to 0.8
* Different corrected vision means different contrast ranges are visible
* A fixed distance might be too hard for some users and too easy for others

#### 1.2 How to Find Your Right Distance?

**Recommended method:**

1. Try a few trials:
   * If it's too hard (can't see contrast at 10%) → move closer
   * If it's too easy (can see contrast at 1%) → move farther away
2. Find a distance where you can train stably:
   * At this distance, you can clearly see patches at 5%–10% contrast
   * Lower contrast patches require effort to see

#### 1.3 Does Distance Affect Training Results?

It has an impact, but it's not the decisive factor.

* Find a comfortable distance

> 💡 **Key point:** Distance is not the critical factor. **Low-contrast training** is. As long as you can train stably, slight distance variations don't matter.

***

### 2. What Should the Lighting Be Like?

We recommend training in a dim room with your strong eye covered to enhance your ability to resolve the patches.

#### 2.1 Why Train in a Dim Room?

Two reasons:

1. **Reduce ambient light interference:**
   * The screen stands out more in a dark room
   * Patch-to-background contrast appears stronger
   * Your visual system can focus more intently on patch signals
2. **Simulate real amblyopia training conditions:**
   * The core of amblyopia training is "resolving signals in low-contrast environments"
   * A dim room brings you closer to this training goal

#### 2.2 Why Cover the Strong Eye?

This is the golden rule of amblyopia training.

* Without covering the strong eye, your brain will prioritize processing visual signals with the strong eye
* The amblyopic eye doesn't get adequate training
* Covering the strong eye forces the brain to process signals with the amblyopic eye — producing the best training results

#### 2.3 Practical Setup Recommendations

**Environment:**

* Turn off room lights
* Draw curtains (if daytime)
* Adjust screen brightness to a comfortable level (not too bright, not too dark)

**Covering method:**

* Use a medical eye patch, or
* Use opaque cloth/paper to completely cover the strong eye
* Ensure the amblyopic eye can freely view the screen

> ⚠️ **Important safety reminder:** After covering your strong eye, be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid training in unsafe environments (e.g., while walking, driving, etc.).

***

### 3. How Is Our Program Better Than Simple Two-Alternative Forced Choice (2AFC)?

#### 1. More Than "Guess Left or Right"

Traditional 2AFC typically offers only two answers. Even if you can't see anything, you have a 50% chance of guessing correctly. Our Intermediate and Advanced modes use multiple-target selection. As difficulty increases, the number of candidate grids grows, making random guessing less likely to succeed — better reflecting true discrimination ability.

#### 2. Closer to Real Visual Tasks

Real-world vision is not choosing between two fixed options. It involves searching, comparing, and maintaining attention across multiple targets. Our design incorporates blue-dot localization, multi-grid search, angle differences, and contrast differences — closer to everyday visual judgment.

#### 3. Smoother Training Progression

* First: practice basic direction judgment
* Then: practice angle discrimination among multiple targets
* Finally: practice subtle contrast differences

Users aren't overwhelmed by impossible challenges on day one. They gradually advance to complex tasks.

#### 4. Trains More Dimensions

2AFC mainly tests "can you distinguish A from B." Our design also covers:

Spatial attention, target localization, short-term memory, angle discrimination, low contrast sensitivity, multi-target search, and response stability.

#### 5. Richer Data

We don't just track right/wrong. We record round number, stage, grid count, contrast, angle difference, reaction time, consecutive correct answers, and error distribution. This provides far more information for reports and AI analysis than simple 2AFC.

#### 6. Better for Productization and Long-Term Practice

2AFC tends to feel repetitive and encourages mechanical clicking. Our three-mode design offers stages, difficulty levels, feedback, guided tutorials, and challenge mode — making it easier for users to understand what they're training and more suitable for sustained use.

***

### 4. Why Can't I See Clearly When Contrast Reaches Around 5%?

#### Your Question

I train until contrast reaches around 5%, then I can't see clearly. Am I progressing too slowly? Am I not suited for this training?

#### Solution

This is actually a productive training zone. You need to carefully discriminate. Try slowing down, squinting slightly, or taking a short break to push through.

#### 4.1 What Should I Do?

Don't give up, and don't force it.

**Method 1: Slow down**

* Don't rush to answer
* Spend a few more seconds carefully discriminating stripe direction
* Use peripheral vision to scan; don't stare at one point

**Method 2: Squint slightly**

* Sometimes squinting changes pupil size, increasing depth of field
* May help you see slightly better
* But don't rely on this — let your visual system adapt naturally

**Method 3: Take a break**

* If 5 consecutive answers are unclear, your visual system is fatigued
* Rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute
* Or click "Lower Difficulty" to return to a range where you can answer stably

#### 4.2 How Long to Break Through the 5% Bottleneck?

Varies by person.

* Some users stabilize at 5% within 3–5 days
* Some need 2–3 weeks
* Some may be stuck at 5% longer

The key: don't focus only on contrast. Accuracy, longest streak, and average reaction time are all progress indicators.

> 💡 **Tip:** If you've been stuck at 5% for over 2 weeks, try switching modes (e.g., from Beginner to Intermediate) to "change gears" with a different training angle.

***

### 5. Does Better Vision Mean I Can See Lower Contrast?

#### Your Question

My vision is relatively good (e.g., corrected vision 0.8). Does that mean I can see lower-contrast patches? Is there a relationship between visual acuity and training results?

#### Solution

They are different concepts. Better vision does mean clearer sight, but this program primarily stimulates the brain through low-clarity patches. This is unrelated to how good your vision is.

#### 5.1 Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Are Different

Example:

* **User A:** Vision 0.8, but poor contrast sensitivity (can only see patches > 10% contrast)
* **User B:** Vision 0.3, but good contrast sensitivity (can see patches at 2% contrast)

So good vision ≠ ability to see low-contrast patches.

#### 5.2 What Is This Program's Goal?

Not "helping you see high-contrast patches" (that's what glasses are for).

Rather: **"helping you resolve visual signals even in low-contrast environments."**

* This is the core challenge in amblyopia training
* This is where the brain's visual cortex needs activation
* This is the value of contrast sensitivity training

#### 5.3 Visual Acuity Level Doesn't Matter

Whether your vision is 0.1 or 0.8, this training program is effective.

* **Vision 0.1 users:** Start from higher frequency, gradually lower contrast
* **Vision 0.8 users:** May start from lower frequency, but training logic is identical
* **Ultimate goal for all:** Lower the minimum contrast at which you can answer stably

> ✅ **Conclusion:** Don't assume "my vision is good, so training will be easy." Low-contrast training is challenging for everyone.

***

### 6. My Error Rate Is So High — Is There a Bug?

#### Your Question

I played a few sessions and my error rate is 40%–50%. Is there a bug? Are the patches displaying incorrectly?

#### Solution

Many users have reported this. Most people's intuitive sense of "left/right" differs from the program's definition. The program includes a guided tutorial — follow it.

#### 6.1 Why the Confusion?

"Left/right" judgment standards may differ between you and the program.

**Your intuitive judgment:**

* Look at grid position: grid on the left → choose "Left"; grid on the right → choose "Right"
* This is spatial position judgment

**The program's judgment standard:**

* Look at stripe direction:
  * Stripes top-left to bottom-right → choose **"Left"**
  * Stripes bottom-left to top-right → choose **"Right"**
* This is direction judgment, unrelated to grid position

#### 6.2 Correct Judgment Method (Important!)

Don't look at grid position. Look at stripe direction.

**Memory aid:**

* Top-left → bottom-right = "Left" (imagine a diagonal arrow pointing down-right, but the program defines it as "Left")
* Bottom-left → top-right = "Right" (imagine a diagonal arrow pointing up-right, but the program defines it as "Right")

> ⚠️ **Important reminder:** This definition may differ from your intuition. Follow the program's guided tutorial strictly. Don't rely on your own understanding.

#### 6.3 How to Use the Guided Tutorial

The program includes a guided tutorial to help you understand the "left/right" judgment standard.

**How to use:**

1. Click **"Instructions"** in the top-right corner
2. In the popup, click **"Tutorial Demo"**
3. The demo uses simple examples to teach you how to judge "left/right"
4. **Recommended for all first-time users** — watch the tutorial before training

#### 6.4 What If I Still Get Many Wrong Answers?

Don't panic. This is normal.

* At low contrast, stripe direction is genuinely hard to judge
* Wrong → see feedback (Pro) → learn → correct next time
* This is the training process

If you get more than 10 consecutive answers wrong:

* Click "Lower Difficulty"
* Let the system return to a range where you can answer stably
* Don't force it

***

### 7. Training Pitfalls: 4 Common Beginner Mistakes

#### Pitfall 1: Jumping Straight to Advanced Mode

**Wrong:** "I must use the hardest mode to prove I'm serious."

**Why it's wrong:** Advanced mode trains "low-contrast target search." If you haven't mastered direction judgment, jumping to Advanced mode will only hurt your confidence.

**Correct:** Start with Beginner mode. Once accuracy stabilizes above 80%, consider switching modes.

***

#### Pitfall 2: Forcing It When You Can't See

**Wrong:** "I must get this answer right," then stare at the screen for minutes.

**Why it's wrong:** Visual training is not about "forcing through." When you can't see clearly, forcing it only fatigues your eyes and reduces efficiency.

**Correct:** Can't see? Click "Lower Difficulty" or take a break. Wait for contrast to rise to a visible range, then continue training.

***

#### Pitfall 3: Using Advanced Mode to "Prove Yourself"

**Wrong:** "I must answer correctly in Advanced mode to prove I've improved."

**Why it's wrong:** Training goal is not "proving how good I am." It's "helping my visual system make steady progress."

**Correct:** Choose the mode that suits you. Don't chase "the hardest mode." The right mode is not the hardest — it's the one you can train consistently in and still see progress.

***

#### Pitfall 4: More Training Is Always Better

**Wrong:** Training 1–2 hours per session, thinking "the longer I train, the faster I improve."

**Why it's wrong:** Like muscle training, visual training needs to be short and efficient.

* Single sessions exceeding 20 minutes cause neural fatigue in the brain and retina
* Fatigue reduces training efficiency
* May even cause unnecessary psychological frustration

**Correct:**

* Single session: \~20 minutes
* Daily frequency: 1–2 times
* Don't exceed

***

### 8. My Membership Hasn't Expired, But Pro Features Stopped Working

The most likely cause is switching devices.

A good solution: in Settings, select **"Clear Local Access"**

Then return to Access Login and log in with your previous WeChat ID, email, or phone number to recover your access.

***

### 9. The Page Shows I Have Membership, But I Can't Use Pro Features

When bound to more than 2 devices, switching to a new device does not automatically clear the old device's page display. However, the old device's membership access has actually been cleared. At this point, Pro features won't work.

If you still want to use the old device:

1. Go to Settings
2. Click **"Clear Local Access"** (equivalent to logging out)
3. Then use Access Login to recover your membership with your contact information

### 10. I have bilateral amblyopia (amblyopia in both eyes). How should I train?

Many users ask: "If the vision in both eyes is similar, do I still need to patch one eye like people with unilateral (single-eye) amblyopia do?"

Conclusion: No patching is required. The primary goal of patching therapy (occlusion therapy) is to block visual input from the dominant eye, forcing the weaker eye to work independently. If your vision is similar in both eyes—or if both eyes have amblyopia—patching can actually disrupt the natural development of binocular coordination (both eyes working together).

**Core Focus: Binocular Fusion Training**

For users with bilateral amblyopia, the training goal shifts from "forcing a single eye to work" to "training both eyes to fuse images together." Here is how you should practice:

* Keep both eyes open: Maintain a natural viewing posture and ensure both eyes are actively looking at the screen simultaneously.
* Focus on spatial awareness: During "Orientation Detection" exercises, pay close attention to how your eyes locate the edges of the patterns. Even if one eye feels slightly "weaker" than the other, do not cover it. Allow your brain to automatically find a balance through contrast adjustment while both eyes work together.
* Listen to your visual feedback: If you experience eye strain or fatigue during training, it means your brain is performing high-intensity fusion adjustment. This is a perfectly normal part of the neural adaptation process. When this happens, please take a short break—avoid forcing yourself to train through severe fatigue.

***

### Medical Disclaimer

1. This document is for educational reference only and does not constitute medical advice.
2. This tool (Gabor Visual Training) is a visual exercise aid, **not a medical device**, and does not promise therapeutic outcomes.
3. If you have a diagnosed vision condition, please follow your eye care professional's advice first.
4. Training results vary from person to person. Please maintain realistic expectations.


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