Background: Corneal disease remains a major cause of visual impairment worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although corneal transplantation is an effective treatment for corneal blindness, its uptake remains low, largely due to inadequate awareness, socio-cultural beliefs, and reluctance toward eye donation. Medical students, as future healthcare providers, play a crucial role in promoting eye donation and improving acceptance of corneal transplantation.

Objective: To assess the perception of corneal transplantation among clinical medical students in Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among clinical students (400–600 level) of Kaduna State University using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. A total of 250 students were selected through census sampling, and 227 consented to participate, giving a response rate of 90.8%. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions regarding corneal transplantation. The questionnaire reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha (0.88). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with descriptive statistics and inferential analyses including Z-test and chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The respondents had a mean age of 24 ± 2.568 years, with females constituting 61.7% and males 38.3%. Most respondents across different demographic groups acknowledged the importance of corneal transplantation in preventing or reversing blindness. However, a substantial proportion expressed concerns related to ethnic, cultural, and religious factors. Ethnic and cultural concerns increased significantly with age (p = 0.0001), indicating that respondents aged 26 years and above were more likely to reject corneal transplantation based on such beliefs. Religious concerns were also reported across various demographic groups, although these associations were not statistically significant. Overall, demographic characteristics did not significantly influence the perception of corneal transplantation as an intervention for blindness.

Conclusion: While clinical students generally recognize the importance of corneal transplantation, socio-cultural and religious concerns persist and may influence attitudes toward eye donation. Strengthening educational interventions within medical training and promoting awareness through community and religious engagement may improve acceptance and advocacy for corneal donation and transplantation.