AccessLens
See camera or photos through simplified visual awareness filters — blur, cataract-style, tunnel, low contrast.
Overview
AccessLens lets you view everyday scenes and photos through simplified visual awareness filters. Point the live camera at a sign, a menu, or a screen — or pick a photo — and apply blur, cataract-style, tunnel vision, central blind spot, or low contrast effects to notice how text, signs, and layouts can become harder to read.
The app is built for awareness, education, and accessibility checks — for example, discussing readability in a classroom or sanity-checking a design's contrast. It is deliberately honest about its limits: the filters are simplified simulations for learning and discussion, not medical reproductions of any visual condition, and the app provides no diagnosis or medical advice.
Each filter has an adjustable intensity slider and a Normal / Filtered comparison toggle, and you can save or share a filtered image — but only when you choose to. All processing happens locally on your device.
Who It Is For
- Designers and developers doing quick accessibility and readability checks
- Teachers and students exploring visual accessibility topics
- Accessibility advocates preparing awareness demonstrations
- Anyone curious how signs, text, and layouts look under reduced-vision conditions
Main Features
- Live camera preview with real-time filters
- Photo import through the system photo picker
- Five filters: Blurred Vision, Cataract View, Tunnel Vision, Central Blind Spot, and Low Contrast
- Adjustable filter intensity slider
- Normal / Filtered comparison toggle
- Save filtered images to Photos (add-only permission, only when you choose)
- Share filtered images through the system share sheet
How to Use
- Open AccessLens and allow camera access for the live preview, or choose a photo instead.
- Select a filter: Blur, Cataract, Tunnel, Spot, or Low Contrast.
- Adjust the intensity slider to strengthen or soften the effect.
- Toggle between Normal and Filtered to compare views.
- Optionally save the filtered image to Photos or share it with the share sheet.
Pricing
AccessLens is free on the App Store, with no subscriptions, accounts, or server connections required. App Store pricing and availability can change, so check the store listing for current details.
Privacy
Camera frames and selected photos are processed locally on your device and are never uploaded — AccessLens has no servers, no analytics, no advertising or tracking SDKs, and no external image services. It does not collect, sell, or share personal information, and its privacy manifest declares no tracking and no collected data types. Photo access is only requested when you pick a photo, and add-only Photos permission only when you save a result.
Screenshots
FAQ
Is AccessLens free?
Yes. AccessLens is free with no subscriptions or accounts. App Store pricing can change, so check the listing for current details.
Are my camera images or photos uploaded anywhere?
No. All filtering happens locally on your device. AccessLens uses no servers, no analytics, and no tracking SDKs, and never uploads camera frames or photos.
Do the filters accurately reproduce vision conditions?
No. The filters are simplified awareness simulations for education and discussion. AccessLens is not a medical app, provides no diagnosis or medical advice, and does not claim to accurately reproduce any visual condition.
What filters are included?
Blurred Vision, Cataract View, Tunnel Vision, Central Blind Spot, and Low Contrast — each with an adjustable intensity slider and a Normal/Filtered comparison.
Can I use it without allowing camera access?
Yes. You can pick a photo with the system photo picker instead of using the live camera preview.
Can I save or share the filtered result?
Yes. You can save filtered images to Photos (using add-only permission) or share them through the iOS share sheet — both only happen when you choose.