# AAO eBooks vs IOL Reference

The clearest difference is review sentiment: IOL Reference at 89% against AAO eBooks's 18%. IOL Reference also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.8) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). 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.

IOL Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of AAO eBooks's written reviews are positive against 89% of IOL Reference's.

AAO eBooks ships an update every 3 months, IOL Reference weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 6, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AAO eBooks | IOL Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aao-ebooks/id665817219/reviews) | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iol-reference/id1626671895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | 18.2% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 78 MB | 823 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [American Academy of Ophthalmology, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/665817223) | [Gurpal Virdi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626671897) |

## What reviewers say

### AAO eBooks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aao-ebooks/id665817219)

Access essential ophthalmology textbooks on your mobile device. Search, browse, and download purchased eBooks for offline use. Enhance learning with notes, highlights, and CME credit opportunities.

**Highlights:** Access purchased eBooks, Offline reading capability, Search and browse content, Highlighting and note-taking, Bookmark functionality, Earn CME credits

**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 AAO eBooks free?

AAO eBooks 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, AAO eBooks or IOL Reference?

IOL Reference is rated higher. AAO eBooks averages 3.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while IOL Reference averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.

### Do AAO eBooks or IOL Reference have ads?

Neither AAO eBooks nor IOL Reference shows ads.

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

AAO eBooks ships an update every 3 months, and IOL Reference weekly. Most recently, AAO eBooks was updated on June 6, 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.*