The short answer
Cataract surgery in Kaduna is a day case: the cloudy lens is removed through a tiny cut under local anaesthetic and replaced with a clear artificial lens, and you go home the same day with a shield over the eye. Before you agree to it, ask who will operate, which lens you are getting, and whether the price covers the assessment, the lens, the drops and every follow-up visit. You do not need to wait for the cataract to ripen.
See eye doctors in KadunaMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Who needs it, and when
A cataract is ready for surgery when cloudy, dim or dazzled vision gets in the way of your life: reading the Qur'an or the Bible, cooking, recognising faces at the mosque or in church, driving at dusk, or walking safely on uneven roads. Waiting for it to ripen is old advice from older operations. A very hard cataract makes surgery more difficult, not easier.
Avoid couching, the traditional practice of pushing the cloudy lens back into the eye. It can cause blindness that cannot be reversed. An eye that has been couched still needs a specialist to examine it.
What happens on the day
Plan to be at the facility for a few hours, most of it preparing and waiting. Drops widen the pupil and numb the eye, and you stay awake. The operation itself is short. A shield goes over the eye, you rest for a while, and you go home with drops and written instructions. Bring someone with you: you should not drive, and a long ride home with one eye covered is easier with company.
What a fair price should include
Prices for cataract surgery vary widely between clinics, and the headline figure is often not the full cost. Before you pay anything, ask for the price in writing and check what it covers:
- The assessment, including measuring the eye for the lens power
- The lens itself, and which type it is
- The surgeon's fee, the theatre and any anaesthetic
- The eye drops you go home with
- The follow-up visits in the weeks after surgery
- What happens, and what it costs, if a second procedure is needed
Questions to ask the surgeon
A good eye surgeon will be glad you asked. Write these down and take them with you, or ask them on a video consultation before the clinic visit:
- Will you perform the operation yourself?
- Is there anything else in my eye, such as glaucoma or diabetic changes, that affects the result?
- Which lens are you recommending, and will I still need glasses for reading?
- When will you do the second eye, if both have cataracts?
- Who do I call at night if the eye becomes painful or my sight gets worse?
Where to be seen in Kaduna on Mezo
Request an eye appointment in Kaduna through Mezo. The care team arranges it with a consultant ophthalmologist and confirms where and when, or you can see an eye doctor by video first.
Common questions
Can cataract surgery be done in Kaduna, or must I go to Abuja or Lagos?
Yes, cataract surgery is done in Kaduna, so most people do not need to travel further. Request an appointment through Mezo and the care team arranges it with a consultant ophthalmologist in the city.
Is it done under general anaesthetic?
Usually not. Most cataract surgery is done with numbing drops or a local anaesthetic injection while you are awake. General anaesthetic is kept for people who cannot lie still, such as some children or adults with certain conditions.
Will my HMO pay for it?
If you have an HMO, eligible plans can cover eye care on Mezo, and the Mezo desk files the prior authorisation with your HMO for you.
Can drops or herbs clear a cataract instead?
No. No drop, herb or supplement has been shown to clear a cataract. Surgery is the only treatment that works.
When should I go back urgently after surgery?
If pain gets worse instead of better, sight gets worse, the eye becomes more red, or you see flashes or a curtain across your vision, contact the surgeon the same day.
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Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Cataract surgery. NHS. Patient information.
- Cataracts in adults: management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Cataracts in adults. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 23 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.