The short answer
When an elderly parent in Kaduna starts struggling to see, the common causes are cataract, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and simply needing new glasses, and most of them can be treated or slowed. Arrange a full eye examination with an ophthalmologist rather than a glasses test alone, go with them or join by video, and help with the drops and follow-up, which is where treatment often slips.
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.
Signs worth acting on
Older people often do not complain about their sight. Watch for:
- No longer reading, sewing or watching television as before
- Not recognising visitors until they are close
- Falls, stumbling or holding on to walls, especially at night
- Mixing up medicines or struggling with the phone
- Avoiding going out after dark
The checks to ask for
Ask for a full examination by an ophthalmologist: sight, eye pressure for glaucoma, and the back of the eye, especially if your parent has diabetes or high blood pressure. Cataract is the most common cause of dimming sight in older people and is treated with a short operation. Glaucoma and diabetic eye damage are silent and need checking even if your parent says they see fine.
How the family can help
Decisions about an elderly parent's care are often made by the whole family, and that can take time. A video consultation lets sons and daughters in Abuja, Lagos or abroad hear the doctor directly, so everyone has the same information and the decision is made sooner.
- Go with them to the appointment, or join by video
- Bring a list of their medicines and any previous eye reports
- Help put in eye drops, or teach a household member to do it
- Make sure follow-up appointments are kept
- Improve lighting at home and clear trip hazards on the floor
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
Is my father too old for cataract surgery?
Age alone is rarely the reason not to operate. Cataract surgery is usually done under local anaesthetic and is commonly performed in people in their eighties and older. The surgeon will check his general health and the rest of the eye.
Can I arrange my mother's eye care from abroad?
Yes. You can book her consultation on Mezo, join the video consultation from wherever you are, and keep in touch with the plan while someone in Kaduna goes with her to the clinic.
Does her HMO cover eye care?
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.
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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.
- Blindness and vision impairment. World Health Organization. Fact sheet.
- World report on vision. World Health Organization, 2019. Official publication.
- Vision loss. 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.