Visual DisturbanceVis_Sym_SimNCT07914998
Visual Symptom Simulator
A study testing Visual Simulator in people with Visual Disturbance, run by University of British Columbia.
Trial summary
Some patients presenting with visual symptoms may have difficulty accurately describing their visual experiences. Symptoms such as blurred vision, diplopia, visual field deficits, and transient visual disturbances are subjective and can be challenging to communicate using words alone. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Visual Disturbance
- What is being tested?
- Visual Simulator
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2026to 30 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years or older
- Referred for neuro-ophthalmology evaluation with assessment of one of the following visual complaints: transient visual loss, diplopia, or blurry vision.
Who cannot join
- Younger than 18 years
About this study
Official title: A Web-based Visual Symptom Simulator as an Adjunct to Neuro-ophthalmologic Evaluation
Some patients presenting with visual symptoms may have difficulty accurately describing their visual experiences. Symptoms such as blurred vision, diplopia, visual field deficits, and transient visual disturbances are subjective and can be challenging to communicate using words alone. This can create communication barriers and contribute to variability in symptom interpretation, with potential implications for reduced patient satisfaction and uncertainty in clinical evaluation, especially among medical trainees.
This prospective, survey-based feasibility and usability study will have the primary objective of evaluating whether a visual symptom simulator (VSS) improves communication of visual symptoms during neuro-ophthalmology assessment compared with standard history-taking alone, and whether it can be feasibly integrated into routine clinical practice as an adjunct to standard history-taking.
Secondary objectives include: 1) assessing whether the use of a visual simulator improves the clarity of patient-reported visual symptoms and reduces ambiguity during clinical assessment; and 2) exploring its potential role in improving trainees' (medical students, residents, fellows) understanding and interpretation of subjective visual symptoms in neuro-ophthalmology.
Read the detailed description
Research design and methods In collaboration with BCIT, a web-based VSS platform will be developed, with the goal of presenting interactive visual symptom scenarios designed to simulate patient-reported visual experiences.
Participants will include patients 18 years or older who are referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic at St Paul's Hospital (SPH) and Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Eye Care Center for assessment of one of the following visual complaints: transient visual loss, diplopia, or blurry vision. We will also recruit medical trainees rotating through neuro-ophthalmology services. A control group (standard of care) will be recruited first and will undergo standard clinical interview and neuro-ophthalmological assessment without the VSS. Following finalization of the VSS, patients will be recruited into the VSS intervention group.
Methods of analysis, instruments, and tools The VSS will be the primary intervention tool in the intervention group and will be delivered via a web-based platform. The control group will undergo the standard neuro-ophthalmological examination alone.
Data will be collected using post-clinical and post-intervention surveys completed by both patients and trainees. Surveys primarily consist of Likert-scale items assessing patient satisfaction, as well as trainees' perceived understanding of patient symptoms and confidence in clinical reasoning. A short section at the end of the questionnaires will be available to patients and trainees for qualitative feedback.
Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to compare outcomes between control and intervention groups. Where applicable, subgroup analyses may be performed based on level of training (trainees).
Qualitative data from open-ended survey responses will be reviewed and analyzed for recurring themes.
- Conditions
- Visual Disturbance
- Being tested
- Visual Simulator
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Visual SimulatorDevice
Development of an online visual simulator, to allow accurate representation of visual symptoms
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | Standard of care |
| Intervention | Active comparator | Use of simulator Receives: Device: Visual Simulator |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient survey scores
Outcome survey will include rating scales of: Overall participant experience, Participant perception of physician understanding, Participant ability to communicate symptoms, Perceived influence on treatment/follow-up/care
Measured: Immediately, at the completion of the patient first clinical assessment
Secondary outcomes (1)
Trainee survey
Outcomes include survey ranking of: Overall Educational Value and Trainee rating of VSS educational usefulness
Measured: Immediately, at the completion of the patient consultation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 2026
- Study start30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Visual DisturbanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Claire Sheldon, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07914998
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H26-01712
- Acronym
- Vis_Sym_Sim
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 4 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Web-based Visual Symptom Simulator as an Adjunct to Neuro-ophthalmologic Evaluation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07914998
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Vis_Sym_Sim / H26-01712
- Conditions
- Visual Disturbance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Nov 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Some patients presenting with visual symptoms may have difficulty accurately describing their visual experiences. Symptoms such as blurred vision, diplopia, visual field deficits, and transient visual disturbances are subjective and can be challenging to communicate using words alone. This can create communication barriers and contribute to variability in symptom interpretation, with potential implications for reduced patient satisfaction and uncertainty in clinical evaluation, especially among medical trainees.
This prospective, survey-based feasibility and usability study will have the primary objective of evaluating whether a visual symptom simulator (VSS) improves communication of visual symptoms during neuro-ophthalmology assessment compared with standard history-taking alone, and whether it can be feasibly integrated into routine clinical practice as an adjunct to standard history-taking.
Secondary objectives include: 1) assessing whether the use of a visual simulator improves the clarity of patient-reported visual symptoms and reduces ambiguity during clinical assessment; and 2) exploring its potential role in improving trainees' (medical students, residents, fellows) understanding and interpretation of subjective visual symptoms in neuro-ophthalmology.
Detailed description
Research design and methods In collaboration with BCIT, a web-based VSS platform will be developed, with the goal of presenting interactive visual symptom scenarios designed to simulate patient-reported visual experiences.
Participants will include patients 18 years or older who are referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic at St Paul's Hospital (SPH) and Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) Eye Care Center for assessment of one of the following visual complaints: transient visual loss, diplopia, or blurry vision. We will also recruit medical trainees rotating through neuro-ophthalmology services. A control group (standard of care) will be recruited first and will undergo standard clinical interview and neuro-ophthalmological assessment without the VSS. Following finalization of the VSS, patients will be recruited into the VSS intervention group.
Methods of analysis, instruments, and tools The VSS will be the primary intervention tool in the intervention group and will be delivered via a web-based platform. The control group will undergo the standard neuro-ophthalmological examination alone.
Data will be collected using post-clinical and post-intervention surveys completed by both patients and trainees. Surveys primarily consist of Likert-scale items assessing patient satisfaction, as well as trainees' perceived understanding of patient symptoms and confidence in clinical reasoning. A short section at the end of the questionnaires will be available to patients and trainees for qualitative feedback.
Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to compare outcomes between control and intervention groups. Where applicable, subgroup analyses may be performed based on level of training (trainees).
Qualitative data from open-ended survey responses will be reviewed and analyzed for recurring themes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –Standard of care |
| Intervention | Active comparator | Device: Visual SimulatorUse of simulator |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 18 years or older
- Referred for neuro-ophthalmology evaluation with assessment of one of the following visual complaints: transient visual loss, diplopia, or blurry vision.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Younger than 18 years
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Visual SimulatorDevelopment of an online visual simulator, to allow accurate representation of visual symptoms | Device | Intervention |
Primary outcome
Patient survey scores
Time frame: Immediately, at the completion of the patient first clinical assessment
Outcome survey will include rating scales of: Overall participant experience, Participant perception of physician understanding, Participant ability to communicate symptoms, Perceived influence on treatment/follow-up/care
1 secondary outcome
Trainee survey
Time frame: Immediately, at the completion of the patient consultation
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Nov 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Visual Simulator in people with Visual Disturbance, run by University of British Columbia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient survey scores (time frame: Immediately, at the completion of the patient first clinical assessment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Nov 2026.