Taking care of your vision is important. Let's learn the everyday vocabulary for a trip to the optician in Spain.
The Eye Exam
To get your eyes checked, visit el óptico (the optician). The action of testing your vision is graduar la vista. Often, you will see this used reflexively, as in graduarse la vista (to get one's eyes tested).
| Good morning, I wanted to test my vision. | Buenos días, quería graduarme la vista. |
| The optician (m) is going to test my vision now. | El óptico me va a graduar la vista ahora. |
Common Vision Problems
If you start seeing things as borroso (blurry), it might be time for an eye exam to check for la miopía (nearsightedness) or el astigmatismo (astigmatism).
| I see blurry because I have too much nearsightedness. | Veo borroso porque tengo demasiada miopía. |
| People with astigmatism also see blurry. | La gente con astigmatismo también ve borroso. |
Prescriptions and Diopters
Your eye test will determine your graduación (prescription), which is measured in dioptrías (diopters).
| My prescription is two diopters of astigmatism. | Mi graduación es de dos dioptrías de astigmatismo. |
| She has enough diopters to wear glasses. | Ella tiene suficientes dioptrías para llevar gafas. |
Frames and Lenses
Visit la óptica (the optician's shop) to pick out a new montura (frame). Without the right glasses, you might forzar la vista (strain your eyes). To avoid this, some people choose progresivo (progressive) lenses to see clearly at multiple distances.
| Good afternoon, I wanted to buy a new frame. | Buenas tardes, quería comprar una montura nueva. |
| You strain your eyes too much when you read. | Fuerzas demasiado la vista cuando lees. |
| I am going to the optician's for my progressive glasses. | Voy a la óptica a por mis gafas progresivas. |
