The short answer
On Mezo, cataract surgery starts from ₦420,000 per eye as a fixed all-in case rate covering the surgeon, theatre, the eye measurement for your lens, a standard lens, the first week of drops, and reviews the next day and at six weeks. What you should check anywhere is whether the quote includes the lens, the measurement and the follow-up, because a low headline price that leaves those out is not a low price.
Book cataract surgery, from ₦420,000Medically 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.
What an honest cataract price includes
When comparing quotes in Lagos, ask whether each of these is in the price:
- The surgeon's fee and the theatre
- Biometry, the measurement that sets your lens power. Skipping or rushing it is a common reason people see worse than expected
- The artificial lens itself, and which type
- Drops for the first week or weeks
- The review the day after and the later review
- Any anaesthetist, if one is used
What is usually extra
- The first consultation and the examination that confirms you need surgery
- A premium lens such as toric or multifocal, which is optional and priced on top
- Your final glasses, prescribed once the eye has settled
- Treatment of other eye disease found at the assessment, such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy
- A dense, advanced cataract or a complication that needs a longer operation
Paying, and HMO cover
After the assessment you receive a written all-in quote and pay online before the day. Nothing is paid at the counter. If you have an HMO plan that covers eye surgery, a standard lens is usually covered. HMO cover is accepted on eligible plans, and the desk files prior authorisation for you. A premium lens upgrade is usually not covered and is quoted to you as cash.
If both eyes need surgery, they are usually done a few weeks apart, and the second eye has its own case price because it needs its own theatre time and lens.
Cheap is not the same as good value
Free or very cheap eye camps do a lot of good, and many are run by skilled surgeons. Before any operation, wherever it is, make sure the surgeon is a registered ophthalmologist, the eye is measured for the lens, and there is a plan for drops and follow-up. Never let anyone perform couching, and do not use herbal or traditional drops on an eye awaiting or recovering from surgery.
What it costs on Mezo
Standard monofocal lens, biometry and both post-operative reviews included.
Common questions
Is the price per eye or for both eyes?
The headline price is per eye. If both eyes need surgery, you get a quote for both, done a few weeks apart.
Can I pay in instalments?
Ask the care coordinator about the payment options available when you get your quote. Payment is made online before the day.
Why do prices vary so much between hospitals in Lagos?
Quotes differ in what they include: the lens type, the measurement, drops and follow-up, and sometimes the consultation. Compare like with like, in writing.
Can my family abroad pay?
Yes. Anyone can pay the quote online by card, in the patient's name.
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Get one written price for your cataract operation
Tell us the operation and whether you will pay cash or through your HMO. Asking is free. A coordinator calls you back, and the written all-in quote follows the surgeon's assessment, so you know the full price before you commit.
Get a fixed surgery quoteSources 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.
- Cataracts in adults: management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Cataract surgery. 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.