Cataract Surgery from Routine to Complex

Randall J. Olson, MD completed his undergraduate training and medical schooling at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City (BA 1970, MD 1973), his residency at UCLA in 1977 in ophthalmology, and fellowships in cornea at the University of Florida in Gainesville and at the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans, where he joined the faculty in 1977 as Director of Corneal Services. Dr. Olson started as division chief in June 1979 at the University of Utah and has been Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences ever since, including the building of 2 eye centers and expansion from one to almost 50 faculty members. He has authored more than 300 professional publications and is a worldwide lecturer. Dr. Olson specializes in research dealing with intraocular lens complications and anterior segment surgery of the eye. He was selected as one of the 15 top experts in the field of cataract surgery in the United States in a peer survey conducted by Ophthalmology Times, has appeared in the last 4 editions of Best Doctors in America, and has been in the last 2 Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today editions honoring the top 50 professional opinion leaders in the field of cataract and refractive surgery.
George J. C. Jin, MD, PhD is the director of clinical research at Jones Eye Clinic, Sioux City, Iowa. He is an adjunct professor of ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Jin earned his medical degree in China at Beijing University Medical School and completed his residency and PhD training at Peking Union Medical College and the Eye Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. As an associate professor at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr. Jin was the first in China to perform combined surgery of extracapsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation and trabeculectomy. He was also the first surgeon to introduce glaucoma laser surgery to China.

After the completion of 2 postdoctorate fellowship programs at the Department of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of Miami University, he joined the Eye Institute of Utah in 1990. Dr. Jin has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers in major ophthalmic journals. He is a reviewer for numerous ophthalmic journals and has authored chapters in several ophthalmic textbooks. His research interests concentrate on refractive, cataract, and glaucoma surgeries.
Iqbal Ike K. Ahmed, MD, FRCSC is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, where he also serves as the research fellowship director in the Department of Ophthalmology and as Director of the Glaucoma and Advanced Anterior Surgical Fellowship. He is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Utah. Surgical management of glaucoma, the complex cataract, and management of cataract and intraocular lens complications are his areas of subspecialty expertise.

Dr. Ahmed is actively involved in research and medical education at a national and international level. He has received many research grants and has designed diamond scalpels for glaucoma surgery; microsurgical instrumentation; and devices, implants, and techniques for the management of the dislocated cataract and glaucoma.

Dr. Ahmed has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has won many awards and honors for papers, posters, and videos. He has given more than 500 scientific presentations and lectures around the world. He has served as course director for numerous surgical courses and directed the Third International Congress on Glaucoma Surgery in Toronto in 2006. Dr. Ahmed sits on the editorial boards of Ophthalmology, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Techniques in Ophthalmology, among others, and he is a reviewer for numerous journals as well.
Alan S. Crandall, MD graduated from the University of Utah, receiving his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine. He completed his internship in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in Philadelphia as well as his residency and fellowship in ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania. He joined the University of Utah Ophthalmology Department in 1981. Dr. Crandall is Professor and Senior Vice Chair of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Director of Glaucoma and Cataract at the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Crandall is a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners as well as a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Glaucoma Society, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club.
Robert J. Cionni, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract, lens implant, LASIK, and refractive surgeries, performing nearly 2000 surgeries each year. He has established himself as a leader in his specialty by pioneering some of the most advanced cataract and implant techniques. He is actively involved in clinical research, bringing the latest technologies to his patients, sometimes well before these technologies are available to other surgeons.

He has authored numerous articles and textbook chapters about specialized cataract techniques and technologies and the management of complications. Dr. Cionni has designed special implants and surgical techniques to improve the surgical outcomes in patients with traumatic cataract and congenital lens subluxation, as found in many patients with Marfan syndrome. In addition, he teaches surgeons nationally and internationally about the use of these devices. Patients with these types of problems are referred to him from all over the world.
Jason J. Jones, MD is President and Medical Director of Jones Eye Clinic in Sioux City, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and received his MD from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, in 2003.

Dr. Jones specializes in advanced techniques of phacoemulsification, anterior segment reconstruction, implantation of the latest design IOLs, as well as other anterior segment surgeries. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and his active interests in clinical research are development of new intraocular lens technology and management of complex anterior segment surgery.
Contributing Author:Robert O. Hoffman, MD, Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology, John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah