German · Facharzt / Überweisung
You see an eye doctor to have your eyesight checked: what to say in German
You go to the eye doctor to have your eyesight tested.
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How it's done. The Augenarzt tests your eyesight (Sehtest) and you buy glasses at an Optiker with a prescription (Brillenverordnung); the fund pays part of the cost only in certain cases.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Guten Tag. Ich sehe in die Ferne schlecht und möchte meine Augen testen lassen.
GOO-tayn tahk. Eekh ZEH-eh een dee FEHR-neh shlekht oont MYOKH-teh MIGH-neh OW-gayn TES-tayn LAH-sayn.
Good day. I can't see well into the distance and would like to have my eyes tested.
Or say:Guten Tag. Ich glaube, ich brauche eine Brille.
GOO-tayn tahk. Eekh GLOW-beh, eekh BROW-kheh IGH-neh BREE-leh.
THEY SAY
Wir machen zuerst einen Sehtest. Bitte lesen Sie die Buchstaben auf der Tafel.Veer MAH-khayn tsoo-EHRST IGH-nayn ZEH-test. BEE-teh LEH-zayn zee dee BOOKS-tuh-bayn owf dehr TAH-fel.
We'll start with an eye test. Please read the letters on the chart.
They might also say:
Zuerst machen wir einen Sehtest. Lesen Sie bitte, was Sie auf der Tafel sehen.
Tsoo-EHRST MAH-khayn veer IGH-nayn ZEH-test. LEH-zayn zee BEE-teh, vahs zee owf dehr TAH-fel ZEH-ayn.
First we do an eye test. Please read what you see on the chart.
2
YOU REPLY
Ich sehe die oberen Zeilen gut, aber die unteren sind unscharf.
Eekh ZEH-eh dee OH-beh-rayn TSIGH-layn goot, AH-buh dee OON-teh-rayn zeent OON-shuhrf.
I see the upper lines well, but the lower ones are blurred.
THEY SAY
Das ist bei Kurzsichtigkeit normal. Ich schreibe Ihnen ein Brillenrezept.Dahs eest bigh KOORTS-zeekh-teekh-kight nor-MAHL. Eekh SHRIGH-beh EE-nayn ighn BREE-layn-reh-tsept.
That is normal with short-sightedness. I'll write you a prescription for glasses.
They might also say:
Sie sind leicht kurzsichtig. Sie brauchen eine Brille.
Zee zeent lighkht KOORTS-zeekh-teekh. Zee BROW-khayn IGH-neh BREE-leh.
You are slightly short-sighted. You need glasses.
3
YOU REPLY
Wo kann ich die Brille kaufen?
Voh kahn eekh dee BREE-leh KOW-fayn?
Where can I buy the glasses?
THEY SAY
Beim Optiker. Zeigen Sie dort einfach das Rezept.Bighm OP-tee-kuh. TSIGH-gayn zee dort IGHN-fuhkh dahs reh-TSEPT.
At the optician. Just show the prescription there.
4
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank für die Untersuchung!
FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee oon-tehr-ZOO-khoong!
Thank you very much for the examination!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
sehe
ZEH-eh
verb
I see
Ferne
FEHR-neh
noun
distance
schlecht
shlekht
adjective
bad
möchte
MYOKH-teh
verb
would like
50 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
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→The specialist has no free appointments and you ask for an earlier oneFacharzt / Überweisung · A2 in the app
→Your child has a temperature and you phone the paediatricianFacharzt / Überweisung · A2 in the app
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