The short answer
Saminaka and Lere sit on the road between Kaduna and Jos, through Pambeguwa and Maraban Jos, so Kaduna is the nearer of the two cities for many families. Bring your old glasses, your drops and any reports to the first visit, and if glaucoma runs in the family, ask for brothers and sisters to be checked at the same time.
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 road from Saminaka
The road from Saminaka runs west through Pambeguwa and Maraban Jos into Kaduna. Parts of the wider Kaduna to Jos road have been in poor repair, so ask recent travellers about the state of it before you set out, leave in daylight, and allow extra time.
Make the first visit count
Put these in one bag the night before you travel:
- Your current glasses and any old prescriptions
- Every eye drop you have used in the last year, even if you stopped
- Any letter or report from a clinic or optometrist
- Your medicines for blood pressure, diabetes or anything else
- Sunglasses, because drops that widen the pupil make daylight dazzling
Glaucoma in the family
Glaucoma often runs in families and gives no warning. If one person from Lere or Saminaka is diagnosed, their brothers, sisters and grown children should be checked too. Travelling together for checks on the same day is one way families from further out make the most of the journey.
Choosing between Kaduna and Jos
Families in Lere have a choice of direction. Jos has its own eye services. Kaduna suits people who want a fixed appointment booked from home and a journey that stays at a lower altitude, which matters after some retina operations.
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
Why does altitude matter after eye surgery?
After some retina operations a gas bubble is left inside the eye, and it expands if you go higher. Until it has gone you must not fly or travel up to high ground. Kaduna is lower than Jos, which can make it the easier choice for retina surgery from Saminaka.
Can three of us be checked for glaucoma on one trip?
Yes. Ask the Mezo desk to book the appointments one after another on the same day, and say that the family has a history of glaucoma.
What should I do if my drops run out before the next visit?
Do not stop them. Ask the doctor by video for a prescription you can fill near home, and take the empty bottle so the pharmacist gives you the same drop.
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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.
- Glaucoma. NHS. Patient information.
- Detached retina (retinal detachment). 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.