IOL vs IOL Reference
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IOL
This medical tool assists in calculating intraocular lens power for cataract surgery. It provides essential calculations for ophthalmologists and eye care professionals.
- Intraocular lens power calculation
- Cataract surgery assistance
- Medical calculation tool
- Ophthalmology aid
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An intraocular lens power calculator for cataract surgery.
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 rating: IOL Reference at 4.7 against IOL's 3.6. IOL Reference also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 75%). IOL's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of IOL's written reviews are positive against 89% of IOL Reference's.
IOL ships an update weekly, IOL Reference every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | IOL | IOL Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (9 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 88.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 8 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.2 — better | 15.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 824 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Columbia University | Gurpal Virdi |
Customer experience
IOL
IOL Reference
In-app purchases
IOL
No in-app purchases
IOL Reference
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IOL free?
Is IOL Reference free?
Which has better reviews, IOL or IOL Reference?
Do IOL or IOL Reference have ads?
Which is updated more often, IOL or IOL Reference?
Other comparisons
