Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

Skip to main content
Craig J. Chaya
( out of 395 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
  • 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, and his BS degree from La Sierra Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Riverside, California. He completed residencies in internal medicine at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and ophthalmology at Texas Tech Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center.

    In addition to the main Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 .

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Ophthalmology

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 395 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.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    October 29, 2024
    MORAN EYE CENTER

    Great doctor!

    October 29, 2024
    MORAN EYE CENTER

    Dr Chaya is very competent and skilled. Doing technical and precise procedures with confidence. I would recommend him to everyone needing eye surgery.

    October 29, 2024
    REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

    I highly recommend Dr chaya, he is a valuable assistant to any medical facilty and the patients under his care. Very caring and attentive. He's awesome

    October 24, 2024
    MORAN EYE CENTER

    Dr. Chaya is knowledgeable and skilled. He was thorough and helped me understand my condition while creating a treatment plan for a highly complicated case. I'm very grateful.

    October 21, 2024
    REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

    Great doctor!

    October 17, 2024
    MORAN EYE CENTER

    I like him. He gets the job done, and I can still see.

    October 16, 2024
    REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

    Muy agradecida con toda la atención que fue brindada por el Dr.Chaya y todo su equipo. Me sentí con mucha confianza al momento de mis operaciones. Estoy realmente agradecida y satisfecha con los resultados.

    October 16, 2024
    REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

    Every appointment with Dr. Chaya has been awesome. He is empathic, personal and a true professional.

    October 15, 2024
    REDWOOD HEALTH CENTER

    Dr Chaya is a good doctor who cares about the results and vision of his patients.

  • 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California, and his BS degree from La Sierra Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Riverside, California. He completed residencies in internal medicine at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and ophthalmology at Texas Tech Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah, John A. Moran Eye Center.

    In addition to the main Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 .

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences -Primary
    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 - Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah/John A. Moran Eye Center Fellow
    Residency Ophthalmology - Texas Tech Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ M.D.
    Undergraduate Human Biology - La Sierra Ï㽶ÊÓƵ 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. 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. ()
    4. 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. ()
    5. 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. ()
    6. 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. ()
    7. 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. ()
    8. 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). ()
    9. 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. ()
    10. 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). ()
    11. Levin AM, Chaya CJ, Kahook MY, Wirostko BM (2021). Intraocular Pressure Elevation Following Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injections: Short and Long-term Considerations. J Glaucoma. ()
    12. 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.
    13. Chaya CJ, McCoy Lori (2021). Global Outreach in the Era of COVID-19. 33-34.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. 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. ()
    19. 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. ()
    20. Barrett A, Chaya C (2014). Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy: Blending Tradition With Innovation. 90, 87-8.
    21. 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. ()
    22. 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.
    23. 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.

    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. ()

    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]. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah: Moran CORE.
    3. Ferguson T, Chaya CJ (2017). Implantation of Two Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents for POAG [Video]. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah: Moran CORE.
    4. Swan R, Chaya CJ (2016). Glaucoma Ahmed Tube Shunt [Video]. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah: Moran CORE.
    5. Swan R, Chaya CJ (2016). Phaco-Trabeculectomy [Video]. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah: Moran CORE.
  • Clinical Trials