Phrases › At the Optician › Sono miope. La mia vista da lontano è scarsa.

Sono miope. La mia vista da lontano è scarsa.

I am short-sighted. My distance vision is poor.

Pronunciation

MYO-pe — two syllables, stress on first. 'Miopia' — myo-PI-a.

When to use it

Describe your vision type to the optician or ophthalmologist for appropriate lens selection.

What it means

'Miope' = short-sighted (myopic). 'Miopia' = myopia. 'Vista da lontano scarsa' = poor distance vision. Opposite: 'presbite' (presbyopic — age-related, needs reading glasses), 'ipermetrope' (long-sighted). In Italian, 'astigmatico' = astigmatic (distorted vision due to irregular cornea shape). Many Italians are both myopic and astigmatic.

Variations

Ho anche l'astigmatismo.

I also have astigmatism.

Very common combination — described by the cylinder and axis on the prescription

Sono presbite e ho bisogno degli occhiali da lettura.

I am presbyopic and need reading glasses.

Presbyopia affects everyone after 40 — need for progressive or bifocal lenses

Ho la vista troppo scarsa per guidare senza occhiali.

My eyesight is too poor to drive without glasses.

Italian driving licence requires minimum visual acuity — test at the optician or oculist

Mini Dialogue

— Sono miope. Ho bisogno di lenti per vedere da lontano. — Quanto è forte la sua miopia? — Occhio sinistro meno quattro, destro meno tre e mezzo. — Non è fortissima. Vuole lenti sottili? — Sì, preferisco lenti sottili. Montatura sottile però. — Con indice uno virgola sette le lenti saranno molto sottili e leggere.

— I am short-sighted. I need lenses for distance vision. — How strong is your myopia? — Left eye minus four, right eye minus three and a half. — It is not very strong. Would you like thin lenses? — Yes, I prefer thin lenses. And a slim frame though. — With index one point seven the lenses will be very thin and light.

Cultural Note

Myopia rates in Italy are increasing, particularly in urban populations — estimated 30-40% of Italian adults are myopic. Italian paediatric ophthalmologists now recommend outdoor time as myopia prevention for children — exposure to natural light slows myopia progression. Orthokeratology ('ortocheratologia') — overnight contact lenses to reshape the cornea — is available in Italian optometric practices as a myopia control treatment for children.

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Ecco la mia prescrizione dell'oculista.

Voglio provare le lenti a contatto.

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