# EyeDropAlarm vs IOL Reference

The clearest difference is update cadence: IOL Reference at weekly against EyeDropAlarm's every 22 months. EyeDropAlarm's advantage is ratings volume (135 vs 15) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.5). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for EyeDropAlarm against 4.7 for IOL Reference. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EyeDropAlarm has 135 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of EyeDropAlarm's written reviews are positive against 89% of IOL Reference's.

EyeDropAlarm ships an update every 22 months, IOL Reference weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | EyeDropAlarm | IOL Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eyedropalarm/id1226103644/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-reference/id1626671895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 16 MB | 823 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kayur Shah](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226103643) | [Gurpal Virdi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626671897) |

## What reviewers say

### EyeDropAlarm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eyedropalarm/id1226103644)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🎯 Comprehensive database of eye drop medications
- ⏰ Reliable reminder notifications for medication timing
- 🔄 Automatic spacing between multiple drops (5-minute intervals)
- 📋 Ability to track different schedules for each eye

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent alarm notifications (sometimes fails to alert)
- ⏱️ Time zone handling issues during daylight saving transitions
- 🕐 Displays military time without easy conversion option
- 📍 Difficulty setting different times for same medication on different eyes
- 🔊 Alarm sound not loud or attention-getting enough

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### IOL Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-reference/id1626671895)

This ophthalmology utility helps surgeons find FDA-approved intraocular lenses. It features a searchable database of nearly 10,000 lenses, updated with new approvals and changes. The app also serves as a social media and networking platform for eye care professionals.

**Highlights:** Searchable IOL database, FDA-approved lens catalog, Database updates, Ophthalmology networking, Eye care tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EyeDropAlarm free?

EyeDropAlarm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IOL Reference free?

IOL Reference is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference?

IOL Reference is rated higher. EyeDropAlarm averages 4.6 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while IOL Reference averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference have ads?

Neither EyeDropAlarm nor IOL Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EyeDropAlarm or IOL Reference?

EyeDropAlarm ships an update every 22 months, and IOL Reference weekly. Most recently, EyeDropAlarm was updated on October 17, 2026 and IOL Reference on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*