# Calculate VA vs IOL Reference

The clearest difference is update cadence: IOL Reference at weekly against Calculate VA's every 12 months. IOL Reference also leads on ratings volume (15 vs 3). Calculate VA's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Calculate VA holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IOL Reference has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Calculate VA's written reviews are positive against 89% of IOL Reference's.

Calculate VA ships an update every 12 months, IOL Reference weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calculate VA | IOL Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculate-va/id1425990457/reviews)** | [4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-reference/id1626671895/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 88.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 823 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Kramer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1425990456) | [Gurpal Virdi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626671897) |

## What reviewers say

### Calculate VA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculate-va/id1425990457)

Instantly convert between common visual acuity measurements. This tool is designed for eye care professionals needing to fluidly switch between Snellen, Decimal, logMAR, and ETDRS Letter formats. Get accurate conversions with a single tap.

**Highlights:** Instant visual acuity conversions, Supports Snellen 20/20, Supports Snellen 6/6, Supports Decimal, Supports logMAR, Supports ETDRS Letters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Calculate VA free?

Calculate VA 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, Calculate VA or IOL Reference?

Calculate VA is rated higher. Calculate VA averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while IOL Reference averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do Calculate VA or IOL Reference have ads?

Neither Calculate VA nor IOL Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Calculate VA or IOL Reference?

Calculate VA ships an update every 12 months, and IOL Reference weekly. Most recently, Calculate VA was updated on September 17, 2026 and IOL Reference on July 5, 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.*