iPhone Apps for the Eyes

CUPERTINO, Calif., December 2009 — It seems like there's an iPhone app for everything, and now we're hearing about a few for the eyes, available online in the iTunes App Store.

We haven't tried these, so no guarantees here (read other users' reviews before you download!). But you might want to check them out:

• You can use your iPhone 3GS as a magnifying glass with the Eye Glasses app, which autofocuses on the reading material and magnifies it from 2X to 8X. Sounds helpful for reading the menu in those dimly lit restaurants!
• Colorblind Helper is a color identifier. You take a photo with your iPhone's camera and touch various parts of the scene to see their colors described in English. Color deficient users report that this is especially helpful when deciding what to wear. Other apps for color blindness work similarly, such as ColorHelper, so compare before you download.
   
  
  
  The Eye Glasses magnifier app for the iPhone 3GS.
  Visolve is a little different: it's an iPhone app version of existing PC software that will make certain colors brighter or darker, depending on your criteria. For instance, if you have trouble distinguishing between red and green, Visolve can make the redder colors brighter. Or it can darken all colors except the color you specify.
• When you're on the go you can test your visual field for distortion with MaculaTester, a kind of Amsler grid for the iPhone or iPod Touch that may provide early warning signs of macular dysfunction. (Caution: Do not rely on this test to diagnose macular degeneration or any other eye disease. You need to visit an eye doctor for that.) A portion of the proceeds from this $2.99 app goes to various macular degeneration foundations.

If you know of other iPhone or iPod Touch apps that are related to eyes or vision, will you please send us an email? We'd also love to hear about your experiences while using them.