Duane Nelson, M.D. is a comprehensive ophthalmologist who has been a valued member of the Utah Valley Eye Center care team since 1999. Dr. Nelson is committed to providing the highest quality medical and surgical ophthalmic care to his patients and does so in an environment of compassion and caring. Dr. Nelson sees patients of all ages with a full range of ocular conditions and diseases and provides superior primary eye care as well.

Dr. Nelson grew up in Utah Valley and attended Brigham Young University, graduating with honors . He then entered active duty military service and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy. He attended medical school in Bethesda, Maryland at the Uniformed Services University of Health and Sciences. Following graduation with honors, Dr. Nelson completed a transitional internship at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, where he was recognized as Intern of the year.

Dr. Nelson then served for two years as a General Medical Officer of the USS Camden (AOE-2) where he was responsible for the health and well being of a crew of over 600 men, providing comprehensive care of the full gamut of medical conditions. During his tour of duty, the Camden was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support in Operation Desert Storm, where he spent seven months caring for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. He was recognized and decorated for his outstanding service.

Dr. Nelson then completed a residency in ophthalmology at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. During his residency training, Dr. Nelson was exposed to a wide variety of ocular disease and injury including many rare and unusual cases. He quickly became a skilled ophthalmic surgeon and mastered the skills and nuances of intraocular surgery, performing hundreds of procedures as primary surgeon, including cataract surgery, trabeculectomy, corneal transplants, vitrectomy, strabismus repair, trauma repair, oculoplastic surgery, refractive surgery, and laser surgery.

Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Nelson became a staff Ophthalmologist at Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida where he served for five years. There he further honed his surgical skills, covering the full range of ophthalmic surgery. He was awarded a teaching appointment as a Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and was actively involved in clinical resident education there, with all residents rotating through clinical rotations in his busy practice. He was instrumental in the establishment of the refractive surgery program at the Naval Hospital, performing thousands of incisional and laser refractive procedures.

Dr. Nelson is board certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has been involved with both laboratory and clinical research and has served as clinical investigator in evaluation of several new ophthalmic medications. He has served as a reviewer for several ophthalmic publications, including the British Journal of Ophthalmology, and has given research and clinical presentations at national and local ophthalmology meetings. Dr. Nelson provides outstanding medical and surgical eye care for patients of all ages with a full spectrum of eye disease. Areas of particular expertise include routine and complicated cataract surgery, including implantation of new technology, multifocal and toric intraocular lenses. He is also highly skilled in the medical and surgical management of diabetic eye disease. He also provides comprehensive primary eye care, including contact lens care. Patients appreciate his kindness, compassion, and personal care, as well as his great knowledge and clinical skill.