IBM and Bausch & Lomb are partnering for an Apple iOS app that will provide helpful data to eye doctors for cataract surgeries. The goal of the mobile app will be to make the workflow more efficient by collecting and processing patients' data before, during, and after the eye surgery. On May 5, Thursday, the tech and eye-care companies announced the new app for iPhones and iPads.

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In a cataract surgery physicians must replace  a cloudy lens in the patient's eye with an artificial lens known as an intraocular lens (IOL). The two companies state that the mobile app will help surgeons to choose the right IOL before the medical procedure.

In addition, the new app can help during cataract surgeries. It can give doctors the option to refer to digital data on iPhone or iPad devices, or display screens located in operating rooms, according to CNET. This process would replace old-school paper notes.

The iOS app uses machine learning and predictive analytics to provide real-time data to surgeons. This makes it one of the first key examples of big data analysis and artificial intelligence in healthcare, according to Computerworld. Several similar third-party iOS apps are likely to follow.   

The new medical app hosts health data on the secure cloud-based IBM Cloud Platform named Bluemix. This data will help surgeons to create a personalized lens and procedure for individual patients.  

Andy Chang is the senior vice president and general manager of Bausch + Lomb's United States Surgical division. He explains that managing patient data is mostly a manual process for several cataract surgeons. However, the new app allows them to get patient data from one location.

In addition, the number of wearable devices in the US is 39.5 million among adults at least 18 years old. That includes smart watches and fitness trackers.  Digital tech can help to process data that is collected at lightning-fast speeds.

Mobile has had a major effect on the healthcare industry. The new app from IBM and Bausch & Lomb represents a powerful tool that could help to save the vision of 22 million Americans with cataracts.

Pilot testing of the new surgical app is set to begin later this year. 

Here are some ways to prevent cataracts: