The short answer
From Kafanchan the drive to Kaduna takes roughly three hours, depending on the road and the stops, so it is worth planning eye surgery as one trip with an overnight stay. Start with a video consultation from home, travel with someone who can stay, have the check the morning after surgery, and only then make the journey back south.
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.
The journey from Kafanchan
The usual route runs north through Southern Kaduna towards the state capital. Allow roughly three hours, more if the road is busy or you stop on the way. Leave early so you arrive in daylight, check current road conditions with people who travelled recently, and do not plan to drive back on the day of the operation.
Do the first conversation from Kafanchan
A video consultation lets the ophthalmologist hear what is wrong, look at any reports you have, and tell you whether the first visit can include the measurements needed for surgery. That one call can turn three journeys into one. Have your phone charged, sit somewhere with good light and a steady signal, and have a family member beside you to take notes.
One trip, step by step
Where the surgeon agrees it is safe, a single trip from Kafanchan can look like this:
- Day one: travel up, then the in-person examination and eye measurements
- Day two: the operation, as a day case
- Day three: the check in the morning, then the journey home
- Later checks by video, or in person when you are next in Kaduna
Who should come with you
Bring one adult who can stay the nights in Kaduna, help with eye drops on the hour they are due, and keep you from rubbing the eye in your sleep. If relatives are deciding together, let them join the video consultation rather than all making the journey.
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 the later checks be done near Kafanchan?
Some can be done by video, and an optometrist near home can sometimes check your sight. The surgeon will want to examine the eye in person at least once after surgery, so ask at the assessment which visits must be in Kaduna.
Where should we stay in Kaduna?
Many families stay with relatives in the city. If you have no one, choose somewhere near the facility the desk confirms when you book, so you are not crossing the city early on the morning of the check.
What if the operation needs more than one night afterwards?
Retina surgery sometimes does, and the surgeon will tell you before you travel. Plan for the longer stay if retina surgery is likely, rather than having to change arrangements at short notice.
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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.
- Glaucoma. 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.