Bausch & Lomb and IBM have announced a collaboration to develop an iPhone and iPad app to help cataract surgeons receive patient information and clinical insights at the point-of-care.

The app, to be designed by IBM’s MobileFirst for iOS, will provide surgeons with access to information that patients have agreed to share, allowing doctors to decide the next course of treatment. The innovative app will help surgeons streamline their workflow and assess intraocular lens (IOL) options on a single, digital platform at the point of care.

With the use of the app, surgeons will be able to view information on digital devices or display screens on walls in the operating room during the procedure, according to the announcement, and IBM’s cloud platform, Bluemix, will host health-related data.
“We are working closely with a small group of leading ophthalmologists to develop the app to ensure it’s designed to meet their specific need and enhances how they care for patients,” Andy Chang, senior vice president and general manager, U.S. Surgical, Bausch & Lomb, told HCB News.

Dr. Anil Shivaram, from Claremont Eye Associates in Claremont, CA, said in a statement that this app has the potential to fundamentally change how their practice manages patient information throughout the cataract procedure, from planning through post-operative follow-up.

Today, many cataract surgeons consult patient data in the operating room with print-outs or notes created during pre-operation office visits, according to the announcement, which can often be bothersome and inefficient. During the procedure, the doctor can refer to notes on the iPhone or iPad.

“By capturing, displaying and analyzing the data over time in an iterative process, this app is expected to help surgeons provide better care and potentially help provide improved surgical outcomes, while at the same time increasing their efficiency,” said Shivaram.

Bausch & Lomb identified a significant need in the ophthalmic community, said Mahmoud Nagshineh, general manager, Apple partnership, IBM in a statement, and the new app will equip ophthalmologists with the data they need to help them make better, more informed decisions for their patients.

In late 2016, a pilot study for the app will begin, where Bausch & Lomb hopes the app will become a cognitive app that applies machine-based learning and predictive analytics to deliver real-time insights to surgeons.

In July of 2014, Apple and IBM formed a partnership that combined IBM’s data and analytic capabilities with Apple’s consumer experience, which includes hardware and software integration and a developer platform. The two companies plan to create apps that can transform specific areas of how business and employees work using certain Apple products.

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