Ophthalmology
Glaucoma Surgery in Nigeria
A new drainage channel is made in the white of the eye so fluid can leave and the pressure falls. It is for glaucoma that drops or laser have not controlled. It does not bring back sight already lost; it protects what remains, which matters in Nigeria, where glaucoma is common, often starts younger, and is found late.
Also called: Trabeculectomy, Glaucoma operation, Eye pressure surgery
Medically 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.
Published price
₦480,000
Fixed all-in rate, one eye
Day case under local anaesthetic. Six weeks of reviews included.
What the price covers
- Surgeon and theatre
- Local anaesthetic
- Antiscarring medicine applied during surgery
- Eye drops for the first post-operative weeks
- Every review in the first six weeks, including stitch adjustments
What it does not cover
- The first consultation, the visual field test and the eye scans that confirm the diagnosis
- Glaucoma drops for the other eye, and any long-term drops
- Further surgery if the new channel scars over
- Treating other eye disease found during assessment
Related prices
Combined cataract and glaucoma operation, one eye
₦700,000
What would change this price
- A cataract removed at the same time, priced separately above
- A drainage tube instead of a trabeculectomy, for eyes where a trabeculectomy is unlikely to work, quoted after examination
- Repeat surgery or needling of a channel that has scarred
If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- Eye pressure that stays too high despite drops
- Glaucoma that is still worsening on visual field tests despite treatment
- Someone who cannot reliably use or afford drops for life
- Advanced glaucoma at diagnosis, where the pressure needs to fall a long way
When it is not the right answer
- Glaucoma that is well controlled on drops
- Early glaucoma, where laser treatment is often a reasonable first step
- Anyone unable to attend the frequent reviews in the first six weeks, which are part of what makes the operation work
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Full glaucoma assessment₦35,000
Eye pressure, the optic nerve, a visual field test and the drainage angle.
- 2
Drops or laser first
Where they can control the pressure, they are tried before surgery.
- 3
The operation
Forty five minutes to an hour under local anaesthetic.
- 4
Home the same day
With the eye padded overnight and a drop schedule written down.
- 5
Frequent reviews for six weeks
The next day, then weekly at first. Stitches may be adjusted to fine-tune the pressure. All included.
- 6
Glaucoma checks for life₦25,000
Every three to six months after the first six weeks, because glaucoma is controlled rather than cured.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Gritty, watery and blurred. Drops are started as written.
Week 1 to 2
No bending, lifting, swimming or eye rubbing. Avoid dust.
Week 2 to 6
Vision settles. The drop schedule is reduced at each review.
After six weeks
Pressure checks continue for life. New spectacles if your prescription has changed.
Risks you should be told about
- Pressure falling too low in the early weeks, usually settling by itself
- The new channel scarring over and the pressure rising again
- Infection inside the eye, rare but serious, and possible years later: a red, painful, sticky eye needs to be seen the same day
- A cataract developing sooner
- Blurred vision for some weeks
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
Will I get my sight back?
No. Glaucoma damage is permanent. The operation protects the sight you still have, which is why it is worth doing before more is lost.
Can I stop my drops afterwards?
Many people reduce or stop them. Some still need one. Your pressure at each review decides.
Why is glaucoma so common here?
Glaucoma is more common, starts earlier and is often more aggressive in people of African descent. If a parent or sibling has it, have your own pressure checked from about forty.
Is laser an option?
For early glaucoma, often yes, and it is offered first where it suits. Surgery is for pressure that drops and laser have not controlled.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 11 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.