EyeDropAlarm vs IOL Reference
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EyeDropAlarm
This app helps you remember to take your eye drops on schedule. It features a large database of medications, customizable alerts, and instructions for proper application. It's designed for various eye conditions and post-surgery care.
- Extensive eyedrop database
- Customizable medication schedules
- Specific alerts for eye and cap color
- Step-by-step application instructions
- Apple Watch notifications
- Automatic spacing between drops
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Eye Drop Alarm reminds you to put in your eyedrops. • Quick set up. No login required. • Recommended as "Top App for Patients" at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Conference. • Simply select your eyedrops from the app's extensive database. No need to type in each medication. • Alerts clearly indicate which eye and the bottle cap color. • Can set up schedule in advance. Ideal for drops prescribed before / after eye surgery (i.e., cataract surgery, LASIK, retina surgery, etc.). • Helpful reminders for people with glaucoma, dry eyes, allergies, infections, and uveitis (ocular inflammation). • Can set up alarms to match your doctor’s prescription (alarms can be as often as every hour if needed). • Automatically puts recommended gap between drops scheduled for the same time of day. • Includes step by step instructions on how to best put in eyedrops. • Includes a variety of alarm sounds to choose from. • Can view alerts on Apple Watch.
IOL Reference
This medical utility app provides ophthalmologists with a comprehensive database of FDA-approved intraocular lenses. Surgeons can quickly search for lenses based on specific needs and specifications, with regular updates to the catalog.
- Cross-platform ophthalmology utility
- Social media and networking service
- Database of nearly 10,000 IOLs
- Search for FDA-approved lenses
- Regular database updates
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IOL Reference is a cross-platform ophthalmology utility, social media, and networking service that provides users with a wide array of eye care tools to optimize their outcomes. This unique app allows surgeons to quickly search for an FDA-approved, currently marketed intraocular lens (IOLs) that meets their needs and specifications. The database contains almost 10,000 individually cataloged lenses and will be updated to include newly FDA-approved IOLs, changes to current lenses, and corrections. This app was created by Gurpal Virdi, MD and Matt Hirabayashi, MD
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: IOL Reference at every 8 days against EyeDropAlarm's every 22 months. IOL Reference also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). EyeDropAlarm's advantage is ratings volume (168 vs 15) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.5). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
IOL Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EyeDropAlarm has 168 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of EyeDropAlarm's written reviews are positive against 89% of IOL Reference's.
EyeDropAlarm ships an update every 22 months, IOL Reference every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EyeDropAlarm | IOL Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (168 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews | 88.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 168 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 15.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 824 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kayur Shah | Gurpal Virdi |
Customer experience
EyeDropAlarm
IOL Reference
Bugs and requests
EyeDropAlarm
Reported bugs
8 issues- Alarm notifications fail to trigger for scheduled doses
- Time shifts backward one hour when switching from daylight saving time
- Military time display with no easy conversion to civilian time
- App displays blank white screen and becomes unresponsive
- Inconsistent behavior with multiple drops scheduled at same time
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- Alarm still triggers after dose is marked complete
- Time discrepancies when adding new schedules mid-treatment
- App confusion during time zone changes
Requested features
11 requests- Ability to add custom medications not in database
- History/logging feature to track completed doses over time
- Larger and bolder font options for visually impaired users
- More comprehensive international medication database
- Automatic alarm cancellation when dose is marked complete early
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- Separate scheduling for same medication at different times per eye
- Time range feature to limit reminders between specific hours
- Louder or customizable alarm sounds
- Data export capability to share with doctors
- Dose history that can be sent to healthcare providers
- Adaptation for other medications (not just eye drops)
IOL Reference
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
EyeDropAlarm
No in-app purchases
IOL Reference
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is EyeDropAlarm free?
Is IOL Reference free?
Which has better reviews, EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference?
Do EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference have ads?
Which is updated more often, EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference?
Other comparisons
