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Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD

(556 Ratings)

Specializes in: Eye Disease Ophthalmology (Corneal and External Diseases)

SUNY Upstate Medical University (2002)

Professional interests include: cataracts, cataract surgery, dry eyes, and more.

9552 Park Meadows Drive Suite 100
Lone Tree, CO 80124

(720) 848-2020

Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD is a cornea specialist in Aurora, CO specializing in eye disease ophthalmology (corneal and external diseases). He graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2002 and has 23 years of experience. Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD is affiliated with UCHealth, University of Colorado Medicine, UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center - Lone Tree and UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED.

Office Locations

Address:

12605 E 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

Address:

1675 Aurora Court
Aurora, CO 80045

Address:

9552 Park Meadows Drive Suite 100
Lone Tree, CO 80124

Some issues Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD can help you with:

Eye Problems

Millions of people every year have problems with their eyes. Some of the most common eye problems are refractive disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Refractive disorders happen when the shape of the eye doesn't let allow someone focus very precisely. They might be myopic (nearsighted), hyperopic (farsighted), or have an astigmatism, which is a focus problem caused by the cornea. Refractive disorders can be corrected by glasses or contacts.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. It happens when fluid pressure builds up within the eye and damages the optic nerve. It is treated with medications and surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. The retina is tissue at the back of the eye that is filled with numerous, tiny blood vessels. When diabetes damages these delicate blood vessels, they burst or leak, leading to blind spots and blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser therapy and surgery, but often vision cannot be restored.

Macular degeneration is common in older adults. The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for crisp center vision. Over time, the cells in the macula begin to die, making central vision blurry. An early symptom of macular degeneration is that straight lines appear wavy.

Cataracts happen when the clear lens in the front of the eye becomes cloudy, making things look blurry or faded. They are extremely common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have had a cataract. In early stages, prescription glasses and magnifying lenses can help. As the cataracts get worse, surgery to replace the lens may be the best option.

More than just one of the five senses, the eyes are heavily relied upon to communicate, work, and get around every day. It's important to have regular eye exams for vision stays in good shape for years to come.

LASIK

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that improves vision by permanently correcting refractive vision errors. Refractive vision errors are sight problems (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) that typically require patients to wear contact lenses or glasses. Nearsightedness (myopia) causes blurred vision at a distance, while farsightedness (hyperopia) makes objects that are up close appear blurry. Astigmatism results in blurred vision at both near and far distances. Each eye is either nearsighted or farsighted, and can additionally have astigmatism. These refractive vision errors develop from imperfections in the curvature of the eye, which LASIK fixes through the use of a laser. The laser changes the shape of the eye by cutting away tissue from the cornea (clear outer layer of the eye).

LASIK is generally considered an elective procedure (not medically necessary) since patients can wear glasses or contact lenses instead of undergoing LASIK. Nevertheless, many people still elect to undergo LASIK to have better vision without having to wear corrective lenses. Certain professionals, such as pilots, military members, firefighters, and athletes, might particularly benefit from LASIK.

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) evaluate patients before surgery, measuring the cornea and checking for any eye irregularities that would disqualify patients from LASIK. A special eye scanner is used to create a map of the cornea. This map guides the surgeon in developing an individualized LASIK treatment plan. Once approved for LASIK, contact-wearers are advised to switch to glasses for the three weeks leading up to their surgery.

LASIK is a brief procedure, lasting for about half an hour, depending on the state of a patient's eyes and the corneal reshaping required. Patients lie down on a reclining chair and have numbing eye drops applied to one or both eyes to eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure. While the eyes are held open by a device, the eye surgeon raises a fixation light where patients direct their eyes. The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to cut a precise circular incision in the cornea's surface. The surgeon then manually folds back the corneal flap to access the stroma (inner cornea).

An excimer laser is then used to remove certain amounts of corneal tissue. For patients with farsightedness, the laser cuts tissue on the outer regions of the cornea, making the central cornea more prominent. For patients with nearsightedness, the opposite is done; central corneal tissue is removed while the outer tissue is left alone, flattening the eye. In patients with astigmatism, the laser is used to even out the surface of the corneal tissue, making the eye more spherical. When the lasering process is complete, the ophthalmologist folds the corneal flap to its regular position. The flap quickly begins to heal and naturally reattach itself to the eye.

LASIK patients need someone to drive them home from the procedure and cannot drive for the following 24 hours. Recovery from LASIK lasts about five days. Patients typically notice improved vision within a day or two of surgery. Prescription eye drops are given to patients to alleviate discomfort and promote eye healing. During this recovery time, patients must be incredibly careful not to touch or rub their eyes. Ophthalmologists often instruct patients to wear protective glasses during the day and night to prevent potential damage from eye rubbing.

LASIK can improve the experience of certain activities such as swimming or reading, and in some cases, LASIK can be a life-changing procedure for those with severe refractive vision errors. LASIK may also save patients money by eliminating the recurring need for updated corrective lenses.

In The News

“Other symptoms of dry eye syndrome can include irritation, burning, red eyes, intermittent blurred vision, and the feeling that something is lodged in your eye, said Dr. Christopher Gelston, an...”—"The annoying side effect of working in an office", Fox News, March 2015

“How they work: "People with blepharitis tend to overproduce oil, which can block the glands and cause tears to evaporate too rapidly," says Christopher Gelston, an assistant professor of...”—"6 effective dry-eye treatments", Fox News, March 2015

capsulotomy	14
doctor visit	172
eye procedures	790
laser treatment	14

**Gender**
Male	283
Female	361

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	525
Black	37
Hispanic	37
Asian	27
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	342
From 75 to 84	147
85 and over	75
Less than 65	80

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	24
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

capsulotomy	13
doctor visit	86
eye procedures	995
laser treatment	13

**Gender**
Male	288
Female	405

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	524
Black	65
Hispanic	53
Asian	32
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	344
From 75 to 84	191
85 and over	58
Less than 65	100

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	6
Cancer	12

capsulotomy	16
doctor visit	116
eye procedures	1117
laser treatment	16

**Gender**
Male	576
Female	840

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1106
Black	106
Hispanic	104
Asian	58
Other	42
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	676
From 75 to 84	416
85 and over	132
Less than 65	192

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	28
Dementia	7
Cancer	9

capsulotomy	29
doctor visit	118
eye procedures	1155
laser treatment	29

**Gender**
Male	287
Female	449

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	591
Black	42
Hispanic	39
Asian	40
Other	24
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	375
From 75 to 84	237
85 and over	62
Less than 65	62

Hypertension	55
High Cholesterol	38
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	28
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

capsulotomy	28
doctor visit	72
eye procedures	1396
laser treatment	28

**Gender**
Male	334
Female	482

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	669
Black	38
Hispanic	40
Asian	34
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	396
From 75 to 84	294
85 and over	59
Less than 65	67

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	36
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	26
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

capsulotomy	34
doctor visit	105
eye procedures	1343
laser treatment	34

**Gender**
Male	328
Female	474

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	658
Black	0
Hispanic	36
Asian	43
Other	34
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	395
From 75 to 84	298
85 and over	58
Less than 65	51

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	26
Dementia	6
Cancer	12

capsulotomy	35
doctor visit	148
eye procedures	1361
laser treatment	35

**Gender**
Male	360
Female	503

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	714
Black	38
Hispanic	33
Asian	42
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	424
From 75 to 84	324
85 and over	65
Less than 65	50

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	27
Dementia	7
Cancer	14

capsulotomy	36
doctor visit	120
eye procedures	1167
laser treatment	36

**Gender**
Male	336
Female	455

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	664
Black	0
Hispanic	28
Asian	33
Other	37
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	398
From 75 to 84	287
85 and over	67
Less than 65	39

Hypertension	57
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	25
Dementia	7
Cancer	14

capsulotomy	89
doctor visit	340
eye procedures	2918
laser treatment	89

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Aurora, CO were eye procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

capsulotomy	32
doctor visit	142
eye procedures	1360
laser treatment	32

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD.

**Gender**
Male	279
Female	396

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	32
Asian / Pacific Islander	30
Non-Hispanic White	545
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	37
Other	13

**Age**
85 and over	57
75 to 84	219
Less than 65	64
65 to 74	335

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	44
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	2
Ischemic Heart Disease	21
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	17
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	21
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Dementia	5
Cancer	9

Education & Training

Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2002. He completed residency at University of Colorado Denver Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Colorado.

Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University (2002)

Residency: University of Colorado Denver Affiliated Hospitals (2006)

Licensed In: Colorado

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UCHealth

University of Colorado Medicine

UCHealth Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center - Lone Tree

UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 556 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Aurora, CO.

4.9

Overall Rating

(556 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Christopher Gelston, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.	$255 TYRVAYA $255
Alcon Research Ltd	$125 $125
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation	$40 XIIDRA $40
Shire North American Group Inc	$25 XIIDRA $25
Allergan Inc.	$23 RESTASIS $23
Other	$40 STELLARIS $23	(820) Cholbam $2	$14

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$380
Education	$127

Biography

Dr. Christopher Gelston practices eye disease ophthalmology (corneal and external diseases) in Aurora, CO and Lone Tree, CO. Patient ratings for Dr. Gelston average 5.0 stars (out of 5). These areas are among his clinical interests: vision problems, LASIK, and cataract surgery. His hospital/clinic affiliations include UCHealth and the University of Colorado Medicine. Dr. Gelston graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical University. He trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Colorado Denver for residency.