Jeff Pettey
( out of 1990 reviews )

Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA

Languages spoken: English, Russian

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

John A. Moran Eye Center

65 N Mario Capecchi
Salt Lake City , UT 84132
801-581-2352
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Redstone Health Center

1743 W Redstone Center Drive
Park City , UT 84098
435-658-9200
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Jeff H. Pettey, MD, MBA, is chair of the John A. Moran Eye Center and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and CEO of the University of Utah Vision Institute. He holds the Randall J Olson, MD, Presidential Endowed Chair.

He specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology and anterior segment conditions, including complex cataract surgery, and sees a limited number of patients at Moran’s University and Park City locations.

Dr. Pettey also heads the Olson Pettey Cataract Research Laboratory, which focuses on enhancing the safety and efficiency of cataract surgery by studying phacodynamics, surgical systems, and improving care delivery.

A Utah native, Dr. Pettey has served in multiple leadership roles within the Moran Eye Center and is internationally known as a leader in his field who has shaped discussion and policy in the areas of ophthalmic education, global ophthalmology, and cataract surgery technology.

Dr. Pettey earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, completed his residency and fellowship at the Moran Eye Center, and holds an Executive MBA from the University of Utah. Practicing at the Moran Eye Center since 2011, Dr. Pettey has served as the department’s Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Vice Chair of Education, as well as Residency Program Director.

Dr. Pettey is deeply engaged in global outreach and related education. He co-directs the Moran Eye Center’s Global Ophthalmology Fellowship and previously served as Co-Medical Director of its Global Outreach Division. He has helped lead more than a dozen surgical education missions around the world. Dr. Pettey co-founded an international Global Ophthalmology Summit, run in partnership with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), to advance the field of global ophthalmology. He has received numerous national honors, including the AAO’s Artemis Award, the Humanism in Ophthalmology Award, and the Senior Achievement Award.

Dr. Pettey has also held various positions in the country’s largest ophthalmology associations. He served as president of the Program Directors Council for the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and currently chairs the AAO Sustainability Committee.

Dr. Pettey and his wife, Gretchen, have four children. He enjoys experiencing the majesty of nature and the outdoors.

Get to know Dr. Pettey and his clinical practice by watching his profile video.

Learn more about his research interests in the video about his research interests.

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Ophthalmology

Patient Rating

Patients consistently describe Dr. Pettey as knowledgeable, skilled, and professional, and say he inspires confidence in surgical and clinical care. Reviewers highlight his clear, direct communication, thorough explanations of options and procedures, and that he listens and makes patients feel heard and cared for. Many also praise the office and staff as organized and supportive, contributing to a calm, reassuring experience before, during, and after treatment.

Generated via Patient Reviews

4.9 /5
( out of 1990 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.

Jeff H. Pettey, MD, MBA, is chair of the John A. Moran Eye Center and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and CEO of the University of Utah Vision Institute. He holds the Randall J Olson, MD, Presidential Endowed Chair.

He specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology and anterior segment conditions, including complex cataract surgery, and sees a limited number of patients at Moran’s University and Park City locations.

Dr. Pettey also heads the Olson Pettey Cataract Research Laboratory, which focuses on enhancing the safety and efficiency of cataract surgery by studying phacodynamics, surgical systems, and improving care delivery.

A Utah native, Dr. Pettey has served in multiple leadership roles within the Moran Eye Center and is internationally known as a leader in his field who has shaped discussion and policy in the areas of ophthalmic education, global ophthalmology, and cataract surgery technology.

Dr. Pettey earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, completed his residency and fellowship at the Moran Eye Center, and holds an Executive MBA from the University of Utah. Practicing at the Moran Eye Center since 2011, Dr. Pettey has served as the department’s Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Vice Chair of Education, as well as Residency Program Director.

Dr. Pettey is deeply engaged in global outreach and related education. He co-directs the Moran Eye Center’s Global Ophthalmology Fellowship and previously served as Co-Medical Director of its Global Outreach Division. He has helped lead more than a dozen surgical education missions around the world. Dr. Pettey co-founded an international Global Ophthalmology Summit, run in partnership with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), to advance the field of global ophthalmology. He has received numerous national honors, including the AAO’s Artemis Award, the Humanism in Ophthalmology Award, and the Senior Achievement Award.

Dr. Pettey has also held various positions in the country’s largest ophthalmology associations. He served as president of the Program Directors Council for the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and currently chairs the AAO Sustainability Committee.

Dr. Pettey and his wife, Gretchen, have four children. He enjoys experiencing the majesty of nature and the outdoors.

Get to know Dr. Pettey and his clinical practice by watching his profile video.

Learn more about his research interests in the video about his research interests.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences -Professor
Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology

Education history

Professional Medical University of Utah Executive M.B.A.
Fellowship Ophthalmology, Anterior Segment, Academic Ophthalmology - University of Utah Fellow
Residency Ophthalmology - University of Utah, Moran Eye Center Resident
Internship Internal Medicine Preliminary Year - University of Utah Intern
Professional Medical Medicine - The Ohio State University College of Medicine M.D.
Undergraduate Russian - University of Utah B.A.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Montgomery JA, Soule C, Sherbotie N, Cardenas IA, Jensen JL, Bell JA, Barlow Jnr WR, Klug K, Wagner L, Pettey JH (2026). Comparing Post-Occlusion Surge at Decreasing Intraocular Pressures with Pressure Sensing Handpiece. Med Devices (Auckl), 19, 592098.
  2. Soule C, Whitaker T, Sherbotie N, Montgomery J, Klug K, Wagner L, Pettey JH (2025). Comparison of postocclusion surge between venturi and peristaltic phacoemulsification pump type. J Cataract Refract Surg, 52(5), 498-502.
  3. Imru RM, Ali M, Sabit A, Green LK, Winokur J, Siatkowski RM, Pettey JH, Lorch A, Woreta FA (2026). Is Usmle Step 2 CK the New Usmle Step 1 for Ophthalmology Residency Applications? A San Francisco Match Analysis. J Surg Educ, 83(3), 103851.
  4. Soule C, Whitaker T, Sherbotie N, Montgomery J, Klug K, Wagner L, Pettey J (2026). Comparison of post-occlusion surge between venturi and peristaltic phacoemulsification pump type. J Cataract Refract Surg, 52(5), 498-502.
  5. Mehta SP, Ali M, Sabit A, Green LK, Pettey JH, Siatkowski RM, Sun G, Knight OJ, Woreta FA (2027). Ophthalmology Residency Match Rates by Applicant Demographics. JAMA Ophthalmol, 144(2), 200-202.
  6. Khan MJ, Ali M, Ahmed S, Khan MMH, Green LK, Lorch A, Winokur J, Pettey JH, Siatkowski RM, Woreta F (2025). Effect of Interview Cap on Ophthalmology Residency Match: A San Francisco Match Analysis. J Surg Educ, 82(11), 103695.
  7. Cardenas IA, Ricks RG, Jensen JL, Nelson TK, Barlow Jnr WR, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2025). Energy Output Variability Among Phacoemulsification Tips Using Calorimetry. Med Devices (Auckl), 18, 485-493.
  8. Sella R, Reitblat O, Durnford KM, Pettey JH, Olson RJ, Hahn TE, Bernhisel AA, Afshari NA (2023). The effect of patient age on some new and older IOL power calculation formulas. Acta Ophthalmol, 102(5), e696-e704.
  9. Ungricht EL, Harris JT, Jensen NR, Barlow WR, Murri MS, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2022). Effect of low and passive flow on OVD thermal properties during phacoemulsification. Can J Ophthalmol, 58(6), 507-512.
  10. Cardenas IA, Ungricht EL, Zaugg B, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2022). Efficiency of a polymer-coated phacoemulsification tip in cataract surgery. J Cataract Refract Surg, 49(10), 1056-1060.
  11. Ricks RG, Cardenas IA, Ungricht EL, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2023). Effect of Modified Peristaltic Phacoemulsification Device on Efficiency and Post-Occlusion Pressure Surge. Clin Ophthalmol, 17, 2341-2347.
  12. Jensen NR, Ungricht EL, Harris JT, Zaugg B, Barlow WR, Murri MS, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2023). Temperature Change of Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices in a Bi-Chamber Set-Up at a Flow of 0 and 20mL/min. Clin Ophthalmol, 17, 555-560.
  13. 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).
  14. Peterson JS, Cooper C, Ungricht EL, Mamalis C, Barlow W, Zaugg B, Bernhisel AA, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2022). Measurement of Phacoemulsification Vacuum Pressure in the Oertli CataRhex3. Clin Ophthalmol, 16, 1731-1737.
  15. Burton E, Jebaraj A, Eddington D, Brintz BJ, Simpson RG, Pettey JH (2022). Gender Representation Among Presenters in Ophthalmology Subspecialties in 2019: A Retrospective Review. Am J Ophthalmol, 242, 18-25.
  16. Peterson JS, Christensen MR, Cooper C, Mamalis C, Bernhisel AA, Zaugg B, Barlow WR, Ungricht E, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2022). Optimization of Phacoemulsification Tip Gauge on the Oertli CataRhex3 in an in vitro Setting. Clin Ophthalmol, 16, 1091-1097.
  17. Brady ST, Vegunta S, Olson LM, Brintz BJ, Pettey JH, Jardine GJ (2022). A Double-Flipped Virtual Classroom Format for Medical Students Learning Ophthalmology: An Approach to Clinical Rotations in the Context of COVID-19. J Acad Ophthalmol (2017), 14(1), e18-e22.
  18. Peralta E, Murri M, Wallace RT, Pettey JH (2021). Outcomes of Outreach Surgery in the Navajo Nation, A Retrospective Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 62(8), 1732-1732.
  19. Nair AG, Ahiwalay C, Bacchav AE, Sheth T, Lansingh VC, Vedula SS, Bhatt V, Reddy JC, Vadavalli PK, Praveen S, Wairagade NA, Pettey JH (2021). Effectiveness of Simulation-based Training for Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery Among Novice Surgeons: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sci Rep, 11(1), 1-9.
  20. Cabrera MT, Christopher KL, Collins ME, Ing E, Sun G, Pettey JH, Simon SS, Sridhar J, Soohoo JR, Simpson RG, Ding L, Pineles SL (2021). Utilizing a Professionalism Mentor to Address Sexual Harassment in Academic Ophthalmology. J Acad Ophthalmol (2017), 13(1), e11-e18.
  21. Hicks PM, Haaland B, Feehan M, Crandall AS, Pettey JH, Nuttall E, Self W, Hartnett ME, Bernstein P, Vitale A, Shakoor A, Shulman JP, Sieminski SF, Kim I, Owen LA, Murtaugh MA, Noyes A, DeAngelis MM (2020). Systemic Disease and Ocular Comorbidity Analysis of Geographically Isolated Federally Recognized American Indian Tribes of the Intermountain West. J Clin Med, 9(11).
  22. Chen X, Zafar S, Srikumaran D, Boland MV, Johnson TV, Green LK, Ramanathan S, Pettey JH, Gedde SJ, Woreta FA (2020). Factors Influencing Postgraduate Career Decisions of Ophthalmology Residents. 12(02), e124-e133.
  23. Gregerson C, Annis T, Murri M, Shumway C, Pettey JH, Shah A (2020). Usability of a Portable Virtual Reality Device for Visual Field Screening in Outreach Settings. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 61(7), 3892-3892.
  24. Murri M, Shah A, Jacobsen B, McFadden M, Alsamarae A, Alonzo B, Shakoor A, Pettey JH (2020). Prevalence of Glaucoma in an East African Population in Mwanza, Tanzania. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 61(7), 70-70.
  25. Hicks PM, Haaland B, Feehan M, Crandall AS, Pettey JH, Vitale AT, Hartnett ME, Bernstein PS, Shakoor A, Sieminski SF, Shulman JP, Kim IK, Owen LA, Murtaugh M, Noyes A, DeAngelis MM (2020). Retinal and Systemic Disease of Native Americans in the Intermountain West. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 61(7), 3340-3340.
  26. Bohner A, Peterson JS, Wright AJ, Mamalis C, Bernhisel A, Zaugg B, Barlow WR Jr, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2020). Effects on phacoemulsification efficiency and chatter at variable longitudinal ultrasound settings when combined with constant torsional energy. J Cataract Refract Surg.
  27. Bernhisel AA, Cahoon JM, Sella R, Zaugg B, Barlow WR, Stagg BC, Afshari NA, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2019). Optimum on-time and off-time combinations for micropulse phacoemulsification in venturi vacuum mode. J Cataract Refract Surg, 45(12), 1797-1800.
  28. Kabbara SW, Heczko J, Ta B, Bernhisel A, Barlow W, Zaugg B, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2019). Impact of torsional micropulse on phacoemulsification efficiency and chatter. Can J Ophthalmol, 54(5), 560-564.
  29. Gong D, Winn BJ, Beal CJ, Blomquist PH, Chen RW, Culican SM, Dagi Glass LR, Domeracki GF, Goshe JM, Jones JK, Khouri AS, Legault GL, Martin TJ, Mitchell KT, Naseri A, Oetting TA, Olson JH, Pettey JH, Reinoso MA, Reynolds AL, Siatkowski RM, SooHoo JR, Sun G, Syed MF, Tao JP, Taravati P, WuDunn D, Al-Aswad LA (2019). Gender Differences in Case Volume Among Ophthalmology Residents. JAMA Ophthalmol, 137(9), 1015-1020.
  30. Kabbara SW, Heczko J, Ta B, Bernhisel A, Barlow W, Zaugg B, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2018). Determining optimal ultrasound percent on time with long-pulse torsional phacoemulsification. Can J Ophthalmol, 54(3), 395-398.
  31. Thomson RS, Bird BA, Stutz LA, Heczko JB, Bernhisel AA, Barlow WR, Zaugg B, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2019). The effect of increasing power when grooving using phacoemulsification. Clin Ophthalmol, 13, 611-615.
  32. Ha L, Wright A, Wright DD, Bernhisel A, Barlow WR, Pettey JH, Zaugg B, Olson RJ (2019). High vacuum and aspiration on phacoemulsification efficiency and chatter for Centurion. Can J Ophthalmol, 54(1), 136-138.
  33. Boulter T, Bernhisel A, Mamalis C, Zaugg B, Barlow WR, Olson RJ, Pettey JH (2019). Phacoemulsification in review: Optimization of cataract removal in an in vitro setting. Surv Ophthalmol, 64(6), 868-875.
  34. Kabbara S, Heczko JB, Bernhisel AA, Barlow WR, Zaugg B, Pettey JH, Olson RJ (2018). Effect of high vacuum and aspiration on phacoemulsification efficiency and chatter using a transversal ultrasound machine. J Cataract Refract Surg, 44(11), 1378-1383.
  35. Bohner AD, Wright AJ, Ta BT, Bernhisel AA, Zaugg B, Barlow WR, Pettey JH, Olson RJ (2018). Optimum on-time duty cycle for a transversal ultrasound machine. J Cataract Refract Surg, 44(9), 1140-1143.
  36. Yuan J, Mansouri B, Pettey JH, Farukhi-Ahmed S, Khizer-Khaderi S (05/17/2018). The Visual Effects Associated with Head-Mounted Displays. Int J Ophthalmol Clin Res, 5(2), 1-38.
  37. Bird BA, Thomson RS, Stutz LA, Heczko JB, Bernhisel AA, Barlow WR, Zaugg B, Pettey JH, Olson RJ (2018). Effect of increasing flow when grooving during phacoemulsification. J Cataract Refract Surg, 44(5), 623-626.
  38. Boulter T, Christensen MD, Jensen JD, Robinson M, Zaugg B, Stagg BC, Pettey JH, Bernhisel A, Barlow WR Jr, Olson RJ (2017). Optimization and comparison of a 0.7 mm tip with the 0.9 mm tip on an active-fluidics phacoemulsification platform. J Cataract Refract Surg, 43(12), 1591-1595.
  39. Shi DS, Jensen JD, Kramer GD, Zaugg B, Stagg BC, Pettey JH, Barlow WR Jr, Olson RJ (2016). Comparison of Vacuum and Aspiration on Phacoemulsification Efficiency and Chatter Using a Monitored Forced Infusion System. Am J Ophthalmol, 169, 162-167.

Review

  1. Bernhisel A, Pettey J (2019). Manual small incision cataract surgery. [Review]. Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 31(1), 74-79.

Book Chapter

  1. Hu WF, Larochelle M, Olson R, Pettey JH (2022). Key Elements in the Risk Evaluation. In Jorge L. Alio, Robert H. Osher, H. Burkhard Dick (Eds.), Cataract Surgery. Essentials in Ophthalmology (pp. 1-12). Springer, Cham.
  2. Hariharan L, Starr E, Garcia R, Penniecook J, Pettey JH, Hanson E, Morjaria P, Noah J, Haddad D, Mezu-Ndubuisi OJ, Winthrop KL, Ventura CV, Lansingh VC (2021). Visual Disorders. In Boulton ML, Wallace RB (Eds.), Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health and Preventive Medicine (16th, pp. 698-714). McGraw-Hill Education/Medical.
  3. Pettey JH, Chaya C, Lavin K (2016). The Capsular Opening. In Bonnie An Henderson (Ed.), Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (1st, pp. 77-93). Switzerland: Springer International.
  4. Pettey JH (2014). Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery. In BA Henderson, R Pineda, SH Chen (Eds.), Essentials of Cataract Surgery (2nd). Thorofare, New Jersey: SLACK, Inc.

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