I want to try contact lenses.
len-ti a kon-TAT-to — 'contatto' has double 't'. 'Provare' = to try.
Ask at the optician when you want to try contact lenses for the first time. A fitting appointment and trial period are standard.
'Lenti a contatto' = contact lenses. Types: 'giornaliere' (daily disposables), 'mensili' (monthly), 'trimestrali' (quarterly), 'morbide' (soft), 'rigide' (rigid gas permeable). For astigmatism: 'lenti toriche'. For presbyopia: 'lenti multifocali'. An optician must measure 'curvatura corneale' (base curve) and 'diametro' (diameter) for proper fitting.
Preferisco le lenti giornaliere usa e getta.
I prefer daily disposable lenses.
Most hygienic option — no cleaning required, fresh lens each day
Come si mettono le lenti a contatto?
How do you put in contact lenses?
Ask for a demonstration — the optician will teach you insertion and removal
Posso dormire con le lenti messe?
Can I sleep with the lenses in?
Generally no — only specific 'extended wear' lenses are approved for overnight use
Contact lens fitting in Italy requires an eye examination and is performed by trained opticians or optometrists. Italian regulations require a medical prescription for contact lenses — they cannot be sold without one (unlike in some countries). Coloured cosmetic contact lenses ('lenti cosmetiche colorate') are regulated as medical devices and cannot be sold in non-optician shops in Italy, though the rule is sometimes violated by beauty stores.