I need to have my eyes checked. I do not see well.
kon-TROL-lo — double 'l'. 'Vista' — VIS-ta. Simple common words.
Say this when walking into an optician or scheduling an appointment with an ophthalmologist. The starting point for any optical visit.
'Controllo della vista' = eye check/vision test. 'Non vedo bene' = I do not see well. Italian opticians can perform refraction tests ('esami rifrattivi') to determine prescription. For medical eye conditions (glaucoma, cataracts, retinal problems), see an 'oculista' (ophthalmologist) rather than just an optician.
Quanto tempo non ha fatto un controllo della vista?
How long since you had your eyes checked?
The optician may ask this — answer honestly for context
Non distinguo le lettere piccole da lontano.
I cannot make out the small letters from a distance.
Classic myopia description — helps optician understand the problem
Ho difficoltà a leggere i sottotitoli alla TV.
I have difficulty reading the subtitles on TV.
Very Italian way of describing distance vision problems!
Italian ophthalmologists recommend eye tests every 2 years for adults without known conditions, and annually for those over 60, diabetics, and high myopes. Italian schools conduct vision screening for primary school children ('screening visivo scolastico'). The 'tavola ottotipo' (Snellen chart) — with letters or E-direction for preliterates — is universally used in Italian vision tests. Italian opticians also use 'autorefrattometro' (autorefractor) for objective measurement.