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Craig J. Chaya
( out of 700 reviews )

Craig J. Chaya, MD

Languages spoken: English, Thai

Clinical Locations

John A. Moran Eye Center

Salt Lake City
801-581-2352

Midvalley Health Center

Murray
801-581-2955

Redwood Health Center

Salt Lake City
801-213-9900
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      Craig J. Chaya, MD, practices anterior segment ophthalmology and surgery, focusing on the medical and surgical management of routine/complex cataracts and glaucoma.

      Dr. Chaya received his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, and his BS degree from La Sierra University, Riverside, California. He completed residencies in internal medicine at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and ophthalmology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Additionally, he received training in international ophthalmology as a Himalayan Cataract Project/Freedom Foundation Fellow in Kathmandu and Hetauda, Nepal, and completed a glaucoma fellowship at the University of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center.

      In addition to the main University of Utah campus location, he also practices at Moran’s clinics at the Redwood and Midvalley health centers, along with the Salt Lake Veterans Medical Center and Primary Children's Medical Center. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.


      Dr. Chaya has an interest in international ophthalmology and serves as Moran's Division Chief of Global Ophthalmology. He has worked as a consultant and volunteer in Guam, Micronesia, Ghana, Haiti, Thailand, and Nepal. His research interests include novel glaucoma surgical devices and international blindness prevention. His philosophy is to provide customized, compassionate eye care that considers the whole person.

      Get to know Dr. Chaya by watching his profile video.

      Specialties

      Board Certification

      American Board of Ophthalmology

      Patient Rating

      4.9 /5
      ( out of 700 reviews )

      The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

      The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

      Patient Comments

      Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

      June 23, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Thank you dr Chaya for your patience kindness and great care for my 96 year old mother.. Your care enable my mother to continue to live at home as she wishes.

      June 23, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Very good with people in everyway

      June 21, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Competent and caring.

      June 21, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Dr Chaya explained things completely and he was a good listener.

      June 21, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Great Dr and staff will nelo mw eith my cousin poo n problem

      June 19, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Dr chaya is so good at explaining everything Knowledgeable, friendly and helpful

      June 18, 2025
      REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

      Dr Chaya was wonderful to work with. He was friendly and a great listener. He answered all of our questions and explained what to expect in great detail.

      June 16, 2025
      MIDVALLEY

      He not only is a great example of a true professional, but he went out of his way to meet my needs in very unusual circumstances which was a great help to me. Words can't describe how much his sacrifice of time and willingness to assist me in an urgent situation.

      June 07, 2025
      MIDVALLEY

      Very knowledgeable and experienced. Terrible about schedule/appointment management and does not consider it important "I get emergencies." Known to keep patients waiting for hours.

    • Craig J. Chaya, MD, practices anterior segment ophthalmology and surgery, focusing on the medical and surgical management of routine/complex cataracts and glaucoma.

      Dr. Chaya received his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, and his BS degree from La Sierra University, Riverside, California. He completed residencies in internal medicine at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and ophthalmology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Additionally, he received training in international ophthalmology as a Himalayan Cataract Project/Freedom Foundation Fellow in Kathmandu and Hetauda, Nepal, and completed a glaucoma fellowship at the University of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center.

      In addition to the main University of Utah campus location, he also practices at Moran’s clinics at the Redwood and Midvalley health centers, along with the Salt Lake Veterans Medical Center and Primary Children's Medical Center. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.


      Dr. Chaya has an interest in international ophthalmology and serves as Moran's Division Chief of Global Ophthalmology. He has worked as a consultant and volunteer in Guam, Micronesia, Ghana, Haiti, Thailand, and Nepal. His research interests include novel glaucoma surgical devices and international blindness prevention. His philosophy is to provide customized, compassionate eye care that considers the whole person.

      Get to know Dr. Chaya by watching his profile video.

      Board Certification and Academic Information

      Academic Departments Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences -Associate Professor (Clinical)
      Board Certification
      American Board of Ophthalmology

      Education history

      Fellowship Small Incision Cataract Surgery/Glaucoma - Himalayan Cataract Project/Freedman Foundation Fellow
      Fellowship Glaucoma Fellowship/Clinical Instructor - University of Utah/John A. Moran Eye Center Fellow
      Residency Ophthalmology - Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Resident
      Chief Resident Internal Medicine - West Los Angeles VAMC Chief Resident
      Residency Internal Medicine - West Los Angeles VAMC Resident
      Internship Internal Medicine - West Los Angeles VAMC Intern
      Professional Medical Medicine - Loma Linda University M.D.
      Undergraduate Human Biology - La Sierra University B.S.

      Selected Publications

      Journal Article

      1. Agraz, D, MD, Phillips DL, MD, Chaya CJ, MD (). Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) with 5-O Prolene Suture. Submitted to Moran CORE August 2016. (Epub ahead of print)
      2. Weldy E, MD, Chaya CJ, MD (). Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) with iTrack catheter. Submitted to Moran CORE September 2016. (Epub ahead of print)
      3. Konuganti PY, Rajamani M, Chaya CJ, Ramamurthy C (2024). Short-Term Outcomes of a Modified Safer Surgery Trabeculectomy Technique. J Curr Ophthalmol, 36(1), 23-30. (Read full article)
      4. Chaya CJ, Herndon LW, Lince J, Radcliffe N, Sadri E, Yadgarov A, Ianchulev T (2024). Surgical Outcomes, Ocular Safety and Tolerability of Bio-Interventional Cyclodialysis with Allograft Scleral Reinforcement: Clinical Experience of More than 240 Cases. J Clin Med, 13(16). (Read full article)
      5. Wang B, Wallace RT, Musser JA, Chaya CJ, Kraus CL (2024). Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation compared to continuous wave cyclophotocoagulation for the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma. PLoS One, 19(1), e0291247. (Read full article)
      6. Huang MJ, Samuelson TW, De Francesco T, Levin A, Sieck E, Gazzard G, Porter M, Gallardo M, Chang RT, Liu WW, Chaya C, Gulati S, Shah M (2023). Managing primary open-angle glaucoma in the setting of suboptimal surgical outcomes in the fellow eye. J Cataract Refract Surg, 49(7), 764. (Read full article)
      7. Ayesha A, Wallace RT, Mai AP, Simpson RG, Chaya CJ (2023). Iris atrophy after administration of Dexycu: Additional evidence and possible mechanism for a rare complication. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep, 30, 101806. (Read full article)
      8. Asafali F, Rajamani M, Ramamurthy C, Chaya CJ, M V (2022). Relationship of degrees of gonioscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy and trabecular shelf to success using a marker suture technique. Eye (Lond), 37(1), 132-138. (Read full article)
      9. Sharfi D, Finklea B, Ehrlich JR, Chaya CJ, Farris BK, Macintosh P, Alter DC, Gilbert SS, Reiter S, Oliva MS, Pettey J, Tabin G, Chan RVP, OBanion JA, American Academy of Ophthalmology Task Force on Academic Global Ophthalmology (2022). Global Ophthalmology Fellowships: Then and Now. Int Ophthalmol Clin, 63(1), 33-38. (Read full article)
      10. Patil A, Swiston C, Wallace RT, Paulson C, Conley ME, McCoy L, Chaya C, Wirostko B (2022). Exfoliation Syndrome and Exfoliation Glaucoma in the Navajo Nation. Vision (Basel), 6(4). (Read full article)
      11. Levin AM, McGlumphy EJ, Chaya CJ, Wirostko BM, Johnson TV (2022). The utility of home tonometry for peri-interventional decision-making in glaucoma surgery: Case series. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep, 28, 101689. (Read full article)
      12. Wallace RT, Murri M, McCoy L, Peralta E, Pettey JH, Chaya CJ (2022). Patterns of Blindness in the Navajo Nation: A 9-Year Study. Vision (Basel), 6(3). (Read full article)
      13. Levin AM, Chaya CJ, Kahook MY, Wirostko BM (2021). Intraocular Pressure Elevation Following Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injections: Short and Long-term Considerations. J Glaucoma. (Read full article)
      14. Paulson C, MD, Thomas SC, MD, Gonzalez O, MD, Taylor S, MD, Chaya CJ, MD, et al (2021). Exfoliation Syndrome in the Baja Verapaz Region of Guatemala. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 62(8), 70.
      15. Chaya CJ, McCoy Lori (2021). Global Outreach in the Era of COVID-19. 33-34.
      16. Conrady CD, MD, Shakoor A, MD, Patel R, MD, Chaya CJ, MD, et al (2020). Combined Phacoemulsification and Pars Plana Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Cataract in Patients With Noninfectious Uveitis. 4(5), 393-400.
      17. Levin, AM, MD, Chaya CJ, MD, Simpson RG, MD (2020). The burden of required preoperative history / physicals on veterans undergoing cataract surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg, 46(6), 918.
      18. Rajamani M, MD, Ramamurthy C, MD, Ramamurthy S, MD, Chaya CJ, MD, et al (2020). Outcome of a low-cost glaucoma drainage device with posterior chamber / pars plana insertion of the tube. Eye (Lond), 35, 901-9012.
      19. Aung T, MD, Ozaki M, MD, Lee MC, MD, Chaya CJ, MD, et al (2017). Genetic association study of exfoliation syndrome identifies a protective rare variant at LOXL1 and five new susceptibility loci. Nat Genet, 49(7), 993-1004.
      20. Aung T, Ozaki M, Lee MC, Schltzer-Schrehardt U, Thorleifsson G, Mizoguchi T, Igo RP Jr, Haripriya A, Williams SE, Astakhov YS, Orr AC, Burdon KP, Nakano S, Mori K, Abu-Amero K, Hauser M, Li Z, Prakadeeswari G, Bailey JNC, Cherecheanu AP, Kang JH, Nelson S, Hayashi K, Manabe SI, Kazama S, Zarnowski T, Inoue K, Irkec M, Coca-Prados M, Sugiyama K, Jrvel I, Schlottmann P, Lerner SF, Lamari H, Nilgn Y, Bikbov M, Park KH, Cha SC, Yamashiro K, Zenteno JC, Jonas JB, Kumar RS, Perera SA, Chan ASY, Kobakhidze N, George R, Vijaya L, Do T, Edward DP, de Juan Marcos L, Pakravan M, Moghimi S, Ideta R, Bach-Holm D, Kappelgaard P, Wirostko B, Thomas S, Gaston D, Bedard K, Greer WL, Yang Z, Chen X, Huang L, Sang J, Jia H, Jia L, Qiao C, Zhang H, Liu X, Zhao B, Wang YX, Xu L, Leruez S, Reynier P, Chichua G, Tabagari S, Uebe S, Zenkel M, Berner D, Mossbck G, Weisschuh N, Hoja U, Welge-Luessen UC, Mardin C, Founti P, Chatzikyriakidou A, Pappas T, Anastasopoulos E, Lambropoulos A, Ghosh A, Shetty R, Porporato N, Saravanan V, Venkatesh R, Shivkumar C, Kalpana N, Sarangapani S, Kanavi MR, Beni AN, Yazdani S, Lashay A, Naderifar H, Khatibi N, Fea A, Lavia C, Dallorto L, Rolle T, Frezzotti P, Paoli D, Salvi E, Manunta P, Mori Y, Miyata K, Higashide T, Chihara E, Ishiko S, Yoshida A, Yanagi M, Kiuchi Y, Ohashi T, Sakurai T, Sugimoto T, Chuman H, Aihara M, Inatani M, Miyake M, Gotoh N, Matsuda F, Yoshimura N, Ikeda Y, Ueno M, Sotozono C, Jeoung JW, Sagong M, Park KH, Ahn J, Cruz-Aguilar M, Ezzouhairi SM, Rafei A, Chong YF, Ng XY, Goh SR, Chen Y, Yong VHK, Khan MI, Olawoye OO, Ashaye AO, Ugbede I, Onakoya A, Kizor-Akaraiwe N, Teekhasaenee C, Suwan Y, Supakontanasan W, Okeke S, Uche NJ, Asimadu I, Ayub H, Akhtar F, Kosior-Jarecka E, Lukasik U, Lischinsky I, Castro V, Grossmann RP, Sunaric Megevand G, Roy S, Dervan E, Silke E, Rao A, Sahay P, Fornero P, Cuello O, Sivori D, Zompa T, Mills RA, Souzeau E, Mitchell P, Wang JJ, Hewitt AW, Coote M, Crowston JG, Astakhov SY, Akopov EL, Emelyanov A, Vysochinskaya V, Kazakbaeva G, Fayzrakhmanov R, Al-Obeidan SA, Owaidhah O, Aljasim LA, Chowbay B, Foo JN, Soh RQ, Sim KS, Xie Z, Cheong AWO, Mok SQ, Soo HM, Chen XY, Peh SQ, Heng KK, Husain R, Ho SL, Hillmer AM, Cheng CY, Escudero-Domnguez FA, Gonzlez-Sarmiento R, Martinon-Torres F, Salas A, Pathanapitoon K, Hansapinyo L, Wanichwecharugruang B, Kitnarong N, Sakuntabhai A, Nguyn HX, Nguyn GTT, Nguyn TV, Zenz W, Binder A, Klobassa DS, Hibberd ML, Davila S, Herms S, Nthen MM, Moebus S, Rautenbach RM, Ziskind A, Carmichael TR, Ramsay M, lvarez L, Garca M, Gonzlez-Iglesias H, Rodrguez-Calvo PP, Fernndez-Vega Cueto L, Oguz, Tamcelik N, Atalay E, Batu B, Aktas D, Kasm B, Wilson MR, Coleman AL, Liu Y, Challa P, Herndon L, Kuchtey RW, Kuchtey J, Curtin K, Chaya CJ, Crandall A, Zangwill LM, Wong TY, Nakano M, Kinoshita S, den Hollander AI, Vesti E, Fingert JH, Lee RK, Sit AJ, Shingleton BJ, Wang N, Cusi D, Qamar R, Kraft P, Pericak-Vance MA, Raychaudhuri S, Heegaard S, Kivel T, Reis A, Kruse FE, Weinreb RN, Pasquale LR, Haines JL, Thorsteinsdottir U, Jonasson F, Allingham RR, Milea D, Ritch R, Kubota T, Tashiro K, Vithana EN, Micheal S, Topouzis F, Craig JE, Dubina M, Sundaresan P, Stefansson K, Wiggs JL, Pasutto F, Khor CC (2017). Genetic association study of exfoliation syndrome identifies a protective rare variant at LOXL1 and five new susceptibility loci. Nat Genet, 49(7), 993-1004. (Read full article)
      21. Bettis DI, Morshedi RG, Chaya C, Goldsmith J, Crandall A, Zabriskie N (2015). Trabeculectomy With Mitomycin C or Ahmed Valve Implantation in Eyes With Uveitic Glaucoma. J Glaucoma, 24(8), 591-9. (Read full article)
      22. Barrett A, Chaya C (2014). Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy: Blending Tradition With Innovation. 90, 87-8.
      23. Ramirez AM, Chaya CJ, Gordon LK, Giaconi JA (2008). A comparison of semiautomated versus manual Goldmann kinetic perimetry in patients with visually significant glaucoma. J Glaucoma, 17(2), 111-7. (Read full article)
      24. Schneider NG, Koury MA, Cortner C, Olmstead RE, Hartman N, Kleinman L, Kim A, Chaya C, Leaf D (2006). Preferences among four combination nicotine treatments. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 187(4), 476-485.
      25. Han S, Chaya C, Hoo GW (2006). Thrombolytic therapy for massive pulmonary embolism in a patient with a known intracranial tumor. J Intensive Care Med, 21(4), 240-245.

      Review

      1. Asrani SG, McGlumphy EJ, Al-Aswad LA, Chaya CJ, Lin S, Musch DC, Pitha I, Robin AL, Wirostko B, Johnson TV (2024). The relationship between intraocular pressure and glaucoma: An evolving concept. [Review]. Prog Retin Eye Res, 103, 101303. (Read full article)

      Book Chapter

      1. Pettey JH, Chaya C, Lavin K (01/10/2016). The Capsular Opening. In B. Henderson (Ed.), Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

      Case Report

      1. Liu ET, Seery LS, Arosemena A, Lamba T, Chaya CJ (2017). Corneal edema and keratitis following selective laser trabeculoplasty. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep, 6, 48-51. (Read full article)

      Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

      1. Nakatsuka AS, MD, Mifflin MD, MD, Chaya CJ, MD (2020). Yamane Intraocular Lens Fixation in a Patient with a Large Iris Defect. [Web].
      2. Ferguson T, Chaya CJ (2017). Supraciliary Microstent Implantation [Video]. University of Utah: Moran CORE.
      3. Ferguson T, Chaya CJ (2017). Implantation of Two Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents for POAG [Video]. University of Utah: Moran CORE.
      4. Swan R, Chaya CJ (2016). Glaucoma Ahmed Tube Shunt [Video]. University of Utah: Moran CORE.
      5. Swan R, Chaya CJ (2016). Phaco-Trabeculectomy [Video]. University of Utah: Moran CORE.