I need new glasses.
ok-KYA-li — three syllables, stress on second. The 'ch' before 'i' is hard 'k'. 'Occhi' = eyes, 'occhiali' = glasses.
Say this when entering an optician's shop ('ottica') for the first time, or when your prescription has changed.
'Ho bisogno di' (I need) + 'occhiali nuovi' (new glasses). 'Optician' in Italian is 'ottico' (optician) or 'oculista' (ophthalmologist — a medical doctor). For glasses, go to 'ottico'. For eye disease, go to 'oculista'. An 'optometrista' (optometrist) is an emerging profession in Italy that can do eye tests.
Devo fare un esame della vista.
I need to have an eye test.
'Esame della vista' = vision test — done by optometrist or ophthalmologist
Gli occhiali si sono rotti. Posso ripararli?
My glasses broke. Can you repair them?
Broken frames — most Italian opticians offer same-day minor repairs
Voglio cambiare stile di montatura.
I want to change the frame style.
Frame selection is a big part of the Italian optician experience — take your time
Italy has a strong optical industry — brands like Luxottica (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol) and Safilo are Italian. Italian opticians typically have a large selection of frames at various price points. The SSN covers some optical care for children and certain medical conditions, but most adult glasses are purchased privately. 'Lenti progressive' (progressive/varifocal lenses) are very popular in Italy among adults over 45.