The Eye Doctor
Getting your eyes checked starts with visiting the optometrist (طبيب البصريات). When getting a prescription, you are usually asking for medical glasses (نظارة طبية).
| I went to the optometrist today. | ذهبت إلى طبيب البصريات اليوم.dhahabtu ilâ tabîbi al-basariyyâti al-yawma. |
| I need new medical glasses. | أحتاج إلى نظارة طبية جديدة.ahtâju ilâ nazzâratin tibbiyyatin jadîdatin |
To emphasize that someone did something themselves, Arabic uses the word نفسه (himself).
| The doctor himself took the measurement of my eye. | أخذ الطبيب نفسه قياس عيني.akhadha at-tabîbu nafsuhu qiyâsa ayni. |
Diagnosing Vision Issues
Common reasons to get a checkup include general vision weakness (ضعف النظر) or a specific condition like astigmatism (انحراف). The goal of any eyewear is to correct (صحح) these issues.
| The glasses correct the vision weakness. | النظارة تصحح ضعف النظر.an-nazzâratu tusahhihu dafa an-nazari |
| The optometrist told me that I have an astigmatism. | قال لي طبيب البصريات إن عندي انحرافا.qâla lî tabîbu-l-basariyyâti inna 'indî inhirâfan |
When expressing "if not for [something]," use the word لولا. The second half of the sentence (the result) often starts with the prefix لـ (or لما for a negative result) to show what would have happened as a consequence.
| If not for the doctor, I wouldn't have known that I have a weakness in vision. | لولا الطبيب، لما عرفت أن عندي ضعفا في النظر.lawlâ at-tabîbu, lamâ 'araftu anna 'indî da'fan fî an-nazari. |
| If not for the new glasses, the astigmatism would have been a big problem. | لولا النظارة الجديدة، لكان الانحراف مشكلة كبيرة.lawlâ an-nazzâratu l-jadîdatu, lakâna l-inhirâfu mushkilatan kabîratan. |
Finding the Right Fit
Whether you choose glasses or contact lenses (عدسات لاصقة), it is important that they suit (ناسب) your face and eyes.
| New glasses that suit my face were ordered. | طلبت نظارة جديدة تناسب وجهي.tulibat nazzâratun jadîdatun tunâsibu wajhî. |
| These contact lenses correct the astigmatism too. | هذه العدسات اللاصقة تصحح الانحراف أيضا.hâdhihi al-'adasâtu al-lâsiqatu tusahhihu al-inhirâfa aydan. |
Maintenance and Care
Wearing lenses can sometimes cause discomfort, such as dryness (جفاف) and itching (حكة).
| Do you feel an itching with the dryness in your eye? | هل تشعر بحكة مع الجفاف في عينك؟hal tash'uru bihikkatin ma'a aljafâfi fî 'aynika? |
To take care of your lenses and prevent irritation, you must store them in a chemical or medical solution (محلول).
| Fatima, you must put the lenses in the solution every night. | يا فاطمة، يجب أن تضعي العدسات في المحلول كل ليلة.yâ fâṭimatu, yajibu an taḍaʿî l-ʿadasâti fî l-maḥlûli kulla laylah |
| If not for the solution, the lenses would have been dry. | لولا المحلول، لكانت العدسات جافة.lawla al-mahlulu, lakanati al-adasatu jaffatan |