Ophthalmology
Pterygium Removal in Nigeria
A fleshy growth creeping from the white of the eye onto the cornea is removed. Nigeria's sun and dust make this common. The operation is short, and the part that decides whether it comes back is what is put in its place.
Also called: Pterygium excision, Surfer's eye surgery
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed 3 October 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Published price
₦165,000
Fixed all-in case rate, one eye
Day case under local anaesthetic.
What the price covers
- Surgeon and theatre
- Local anaesthetic
- Eye drops for the first post-operative weeks
- Review the next day and again at six weeks
What it does not cover
- The first consultation and the examination that confirms surgery is needed
- A conjunctival graft, priced separately above
- Spectacles, where the astigmatism it caused needs correcting afterwards
- Treating other eye disease found during assessment
Related prices
Excision with conjunctival graft
Recommended. Bare excision alone has a far higher recurrence rate.
₦240,000
Both eyes
₦290,000
What would change this price
- A conjunctival graft, which most people should have
- A recurrent pterygium, which is a harder operation than a first one
- Both eyes, priced separately above
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
- A growth that has reached or is approaching the pupil and is affecting vision
- Astigmatism caused by the growth distorting the cornea
- Persistent redness, grittiness and irritation that drops do not settle
- A growth that is visibly enlarging over months
When it is not the right answer
- A small growth that is not advancing and causes no symptoms, which needs sunglasses and lubricants rather than surgery
- Anyone who has not tried lubricating drops for the irritation
- An eye with active inflammation, until that settles
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Full eye examination₦35,000
Vision, the extent of the growth across the cornea, and whether it is causing astigmatism.
- 2
Lubricants and sun protection first
For a growth that is not advancing, this is the treatment. Surgery is for growths that threaten vision or will not settle.
- 3
The operation
Twenty to thirty minutes under local anaesthetic. The growth is removed and a graft taken from under the eyelid covers the bare area.
- 4
Home the same day
With a pad for the first night and drops for several weeks.
- 5
Reviewed the next day and at six weeks₦25,000
Both included.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Gritty, red and watering. This is the uncomfortable part and it is short.
Week 1 to 2
Redness settles steadily. Drops continue. Avoid dust and sun.
Week 2 to 6
The eye looks progressively whiter. Vision stabilises as any astigmatism settles.
After six weeks
Final result, and the point at which new spectacles are prescribed if they are needed.
Risks you should be told about
- Recurrence, which is the main risk and is far lower with a graft than without
- Persistent redness at the graft site for some weeks
- Infection, uncommon
- Scarring of the cornea where the growth had reached far across it
- Double vision, rare
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 it come back?
Bare excision alone recurs often. Covering the area with a conjunctival graft reduces that substantially, which is why it is the version we recommend and price separately rather than hide.
Does it have to be removed?
Not if it is small, stable and not affecting vision. Sunglasses and lubricating drops are the right treatment for many people, and surgery is for growths that are advancing or distorting the cornea.
Will my vision improve?
Where the growth was causing astigmatism or encroaching on the pupil, usually yes. Where it was only cosmetic, removing it does not change vision.
Why is this so common here?
Sustained sun exposure, wind and dust. Sunglasses are genuinely preventive, and that is worth doing for the other eye.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 3 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.