Mobile Health Apps for Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision: Systematic Review of Evidence, Accessibility, and App Quality

Background Individuals who are blind or have low vision experience disproportionate burdens in both physical and psychological functioning, and mobile health apps may help address some of these needs. However, their availability, accessibility, and empirical support for this population remain unclear. Objective This systematic review aimed to identify mobile health apps relevant to supporting physical and psychological functioning in individuals who are blind or have low vision, summarize the empirical evidence available for these apps, and examine their accessibility and quality. Methods We used a multicomponent approach that combined (1) identification of apps through organizational recommendations; (2) a systematic search of the scientific literature, conducted and reported in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines; and (3) an exploratory accessibility and app quality appraisal using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 and the Mobile App Development and Assessment Guide. Results A total of 19 unique mobile health apps were identified after combining and deduplicating apps identified through organizational recommendations and scientific literature. Fifteen apps were identified through organizational recommendations, and 14 empirical studies evaluating 11 apps were included in the qualitative synthesis. Only a subset of these studies specifically involved blind or low-vision participants; several evaluated apps in broader clinical or general populations where visual impairment status was not reported. The identified apps focused primarily on physical functioning, particularly medication management, glucose monitoring, pharmaceutical information access, and health care access. No apps primarily designed to support psychological functioning in individuals who are blind or have low vision were identified. Of 14 studies, 6 (43%) were rated as being of good methodological quality. The exploratory user-informed accessibility appraisal showed variability across apps: MyPills received the most favorable accessibility profile, with “High” ratings across all 4 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines principles, whereas several organizationally recommended apps received low ratings across most principles. Mobile App Development and Assessment Guide scores ranged from 8/39 to 34/39, with Medisafe scoring highest. Conclusions The current landscape of mobile health apps for individuals who are blind or have low vision remains limited, uneven in accessibility and quality, and supported by a limited and heterogeneous evidence base. The absence of identified apps targeting psychological functioning represents a particularly important gap. Improving the development and implementation of mobile health apps for individuals who are blind or have low vision will require more than increasing the number of available apps; it will require apps that are accessible from the outset, rigorously evaluated, and developed with the people they are intended to serve.