# IOL vs IOL Reference

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.

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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IOL | IOL Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-calculator/id456304691/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-reference/id1626671895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 1 MB | 823 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Columbia University](https://appshunter.io/developer/405514802) | [Gurpal Virdi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626671897) |

## What reviewers say

### IOL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-calculator/id456304691)

This medical tool assists in calculating intraocular lens power for cataract surgery. It provides essential calculations for ophthalmologists and eye care professionals.

**Highlights:** Intraocular lens power calculation, Cataract surgery assistance, Medical calculation tool, Ophthalmology aid

**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 IOL free?

IOL 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, IOL or IOL Reference?

IOL Reference is rated higher. IOL averages 3.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while IOL Reference averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do IOL or IOL Reference have ads?

Neither IOL nor IOL Reference shows ads.

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

IOL ships an update weekly, and IOL Reference weekly. Most recently, IOL was updated on October 2, 2026 and IOL Reference on September 28, 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.*