Vision problems can be frightening, and for Spanish-speaking patients, trying to describe “something in my eye” or “spots floating in my vision” across a language barrier can make an already stressful visit even harder. Whether you’re an optometrist, ophthalmologist, nurse, technician, or medical interpreter, knowing how to ask about eye symptoms and guide a patient through an eye exam in Spanish helps you get a more accurate history, perform a smoother exam, and build trust.
In this guide, you’ll learn the essential Spanish vocabulary for eye anatomy and common eye symptoms, the key verbs you’ll use in the exam room, patient questions in the formal usted form, step-by-step exam instructions, sample dialogues with English translations, a practice quiz, and tips for working with Spanish-speaking patients.
1. Key Vocabulary: Eye Anatomy & Exam Terms in Spanish
Start with the parts of the eye and the tools of the trade. As in other medical Spanish topics, you’ll find a clinical term and a more everyday expression your patients are likely to use.
| English | Spanish (Formal / Clinical) | Colloquial / Common | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye / eyes | el ojo / los ojos | el ojito (affectionate, for kids) | OH-hoh / OH-hohs |
| Eyelid | el párpado | el párpado | PAR-pah-doh |
| Eyelashes | las pestañas | las pestañas | pes-TAH-nyahs |
| Eyebrows | las cejas | las cejas | SEH-hahs |
| Pupil | la pupila | la pupila | poo-PEE-lah |
| Iris | el iris | la parte de color del ojo | EE-rees |
| Cornea | la córnea | la parte transparente del ojo | KOR-neh-ah |
| Retina | la retina | la retina | reh-TEE-nah |
| Optic nerve | el nervio óptico | el nervio del ojo | NER-byoh OP-tee-koh |
| Tears / tear duct | las lágrimas / el conducto lagrimal | el lagrimal | LAH-gree-mahs / kon-DOOK-toh lah-gree-MAL |
| Eye drops | las gotas (oftálmicas) | las gotitas para los ojos | GOH-tahs |
| Glasses | los anteojos / las gafas | los lentes | an-teh-OH-hohs / GAH-fahs |
| Contact lenses | los lentes de contacto | los lentes de contacto / los pupilentes (Mexico) | LEN-tes deh kon-TAK-toh |
| Optometrist | el/la optometrista | el doctor/la doctora de los ojos | op-toh-meh-TREES-tah |
| Ophthalmologist | el/la oftalmólogo/a | el doctor/la doctora de los ojos | of-tal-MOH-loh-goh |
| Eye chart | la tabla / el cartel de agudeza visual | la tabla de letras | TAH-blah / kar-TEL deh ah-goo-DEH-sah bee-SWAL |
| Penlight / flashlight | la linterna | la lamparita / la lucecita | leen-TER-nah |
| Glaucoma | el glaucoma | la presión en el ojo | GLOW-koh-mah |
| Cataracts | las cataratas | la nube en el ojo | kah-tah-RAH-tahs |
💡 Regional note: Anteojos is common in Argentina and much of South America, gafas in Spain, Colombia, and parts of Central America, and lentes throughout Mexico and Central America. All are widely understood. If you’re unsure, lentes and anteojos are safe choices in most Latin American settings.
💡 Titles note: Many patients will address any eye care provider as doctor/doctora, even if the provider is an optometrist. This is a sign of respect, so there’s no need to correct them.
2. Common Eye Symptoms in Spanish
Patients rarely use textbook terms. They’ll say “me arden los ojos” or “veo manchitas.” Learn both the clinical term and the way patients actually talk.
| English | Spanish (Formal / Clinical) | Colloquial / Common | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blurry vision | visión borrosa | veo borroso / veo nublado | bee-SYON boh-ROH-sah |
| Double vision | visión doble / diplopía | veo doble | bee-SYON DOH-bleh / dee-ploh-PEE-ah |
| Itchy eyes | comezón / picazón / picor en los ojos | me pican los ojos | koh-meh-SON / pee-kah-SON / pee-KOR |
| Burning sensation | ardor / sensación de quemazón | me arden los ojos | ar-DOR / keh-mah-SON |
| Dry eyes | ojos secos / sequedad ocular | siento los ojos resecos | OH-hohs SEH-kohs / seh-keh-DAD oh-koo-LAR |
| Watery eyes | ojos llorosos / lagrimeo | me lloran los ojos | oh-hohs yoh-ROH-sohs / lah-gree-MEH-oh |
| Redness | enrojecimiento / ojos rojos | tengo el ojo rojo | en-roh-heh-see-MYEN-toh |
| Swelling / swollen | hinchazón / hinchado(a) | tengo el ojo hinchado | een-chah-SON |
| Eye discharge / pus | secreción / lagañas | lagañas / chinguiña / cheles (regional) | seh-kreh-SYON / lah-GAH-nyahs |
| Sensitivity to light | sensibilidad a la luz / fotofobia | la luz me molesta | sen-see-bee-lee-DAD ah lah LOOS / foh-toh-FOH-byah |
| Floaters | moscas volantes / manchas flotantes | veo manchitas / puntitos que flotan | MOS-kahs boh-LAN-tes |
| Foreign body sensation | sensación de cuerpo extraño | siento como si tuviera arena en el ojo | sen-sah-SYON deh KWER-poh ex-TRAH-nyoh |
| Eye pain | dolor ocular | me duele el ojo | doh-LOR oh-koo-LAR |
| Flashes of light | destellos / fotopsias | veo lucecitas / relámpagos | des-TEH-yohs / foh-TOP-syahs |
| Vision loss | pérdida de la visión | no veo / perdí la vista | PER-dee-dah deh lah bee-SYON |
💡 Regional note: For eye discharge, lagañas (also written legañas) is the most widely understood term. Chinguiña and cheles are regional expressions heard in parts of Mexico and Central America, so recognize them if a patient uses them, but use lagañas or secreción yourself.
⚠️ Red flag symptoms: Sudden vision loss, a “curtain” or shadow over part of the vision, a sudden shower of floaters, flashes of light, severe eye pain, or an eye injury can be emergencies. Ask directly: “¿Fue repentino? ¿Siente como una cortina o sombra en la vista?” (Was it sudden? Do you feel like a curtain or shadow in your vision?)
3. Useful Verbs for Eye Exam Conversations
These are the verbs that carry the conversation, both for asking about symptoms and giving instructions. The table shows the usted form for questions and, where relevant, the formal command used during the exam.
| Infinitive | Meaning | Usted Form (Question) | Formal Command | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ver | to see | ve | Vea | ¿Ve bien de lejos? — Do you see well from far away? |
| mirar | to look | mira | Mire | Mire hacia el frente, por favor. — Look straight ahead, please. |
| seguir | to follow | sigue | Siga | Siga mi dedo con la mirada. — Follow my finger with your eyes. |
| cubrirse | to cover (oneself) | se cubre | Cúbrase | Cúbrase el ojo izquierdo con esta tarjeta. — Cover your left eye with this card. |
| leer | to read | lee | Lea | Lea la línea más pequeña que pueda ver. — Read the smallest line you can see. |
| pestañear / parpadear | to blink | pestañea / parpadea | Pestañee / Parpadee | Parpadee varias veces, por favor. — Blink several times, please. |
| abrir | to open | abre | Abra | Abra bien los ojos. — Open your eyes wide. |
| cerrar | to close | cierra | Cierre | Cierre los ojos un momento. — Close your eyes for a moment. |
| doler | to hurt | duele | — | ¿Le duele el ojo? — Does your eye hurt? |
| arder | to burn / sting | arde | — | ¿Le arden los ojos? — Do your eyes burn? |
| picar | to itch | pica | — | ¿Le pican los ojos? — Do your eyes itch? |
| molestar | to bother | molesta | — | ¿Le molesta la luz? — Does the light bother you? |
| lagrimear | to water / tear up | lagrimea | — | ¿Le lagrimea el ojo? — Does your eye water? |
| usar | to use / wear | usa | Use | ¿Usa anteojos o lentes de contacto? — Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? |
| quitarse | to take off | se quita | Quítese | Quítese los anteojos, por favor. — Take off your glasses, please. |
| dilatar | to dilate | dilata | — | Voy a dilatarle las pupilas. — I’m going to dilate your pupils. |
| frotarse | to rub | se frota | No se frote | No se frote los ojos. — Don’t rub your eyes. |
| apoyar | to rest / lean | apoya | Apoye | Apoye la barbilla aquí. — Rest your chin here. |
💡 Grammar note: Verbs like doler, arder, picar, and molestar work like gustar: the thing that hurts is the subject, and the person is the indirect object (le). That’s why we say “¿Le duele el ojo?” (literally, “Does the eye hurt to you?”) and use the plural when more than one thing is affected: “¿Le arden los ojos?”
💡 Command tip: Formal commands are built from the yo form: drop the -o and add -e for -ar verbs (mirar → mire) or -a for -er/-ir verbs (leer → lea, abrir → abra). Reflexive verbs attach -se to the end: cúbrase, quítese. For negative commands, the pronoun goes before the verb: no se frote.
4. Patient Questions: Main Symptoms
Start with the chief complaint. These questions use the formal usted form and follow the natural flow of an eye history: what, where, when, and how.
What & Where
- ¿Qué síntomas tiene? – What symptoms do you have?
- ¿Qué molestias siente en los ojos? – What discomfort do you feel in your eyes?
- ¿Cuál ojo le molesta? ¿El derecho, el izquierdo o ambos? – Which eye is bothering you? The right, the left, or both?
When
- ¿Cuándo comenzó (empezó) este problema? – When did this problem start?
- ¿Comenzó de repente o poco a poco? – Did it start suddenly or gradually?
- ¿Ha empeorado, mejorado o sigue igual? – Has it gotten worse, better, or stayed the same?
Symptoms
- ¿Siente dolor, ardor o comezón? – Do you feel pain, burning, or itchiness?
- ¿Tiene la visión borrosa o doble? – Is your vision blurry or double?
- ¿Le lagrimea el ojo o tiene mucha secreción (lagañas)? – Does your eye water or do you have a lot of discharge?
- ¿Le molesta la luz? – Does light bother you?
- ¿Ve manchas o puntitos que flotan, o destellos de luz? – Do you see spots or dots floating, or flashes of light?
- ¿Siente como si tuviera algo en el ojo, por ejemplo arena? – Do you feel like you have something in your eye, such as sand?
- ¿Tiene el ojo rojo o hinchado? – Is your eye red or swollen?
- ¿Tiene dolor de cabeza o náuseas con estos síntomas? – Do you have a headache or nausea with these symptoms?
5. Patient Questions: Background & Optical Correction
Once you know the main complaint, ask about history, lenses, injuries, and risk factors.
Optical Correction
- ¿Usa anteojos (gafas) o lentes de contacto? – Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
- ¿Tiene puestos los lentes de contacto en este momento? – Are you wearing your contact lenses right now?
- ¿Duerme con los lentes de contacto puestos? – Do you sleep with your contact lenses in?
- ¿Cuándo fue su último examen de la vista? – When was your last eye exam?
Injury & History
- ¿Sufrió algún golpe o lesión en el ojo? – Did you suffer any blow or injury to the eye?
- ¿Le cayó algo en el ojo, como polvo, un químico o una astilla? – Did anything get in your eye, like dust, a chemical, or a splinter?
- ¿Ha tenido alguna cirugía en los ojos? – Have you ever had eye surgery?
Family & Health History
- ¿Tiene antecedentes familiares de glaucoma o cataratas? – Do you have a family history of glaucoma or cataracts?
- ¿Tiene diabetes o presión alta? – Do you have diabetes or high blood pressure?
- ¿Está usando gotas para los ojos o algún medicamento? – Are you using eye drops or any medication?
- ¿Tiene alergias? – Do you have allergies?
6. Instructions During the Eye Exam
Clear, simple commands help patients cooperate and feel at ease. Here they are in the order of a typical exam.
Getting Started
- Pase y tome asiento, por favor. – Come in and have a seat, please.
- Quítese los anteojos (los lentes de contacto), por favor. – Please take off your glasses (contact lenses).
- Apoye la barbilla aquí y la frente allá. – Rest your chin here and your forehead there.
Visual Acuity & Eye Movement
- Mire hacia el frente / Mire hacia adelante, por favor. – Look straight ahead, please.
- Siga mi dedo con la mirada, sin mover la cabeza. – Follow my finger with your eyes, without moving your head.
- Cúbrase el ojo izquierdo/derecho con esta tarjeta. – Cover your left/right eye with this card.
- Lea la línea más pequeña que pueda ver en la tabla. – Read the smallest line you can see on the chart.
- Mire hacia arriba… hacia abajo… hacia la derecha… hacia la izquierda. – Look up… down… to the right… to the left.
Comfort & Drops
- Pestañee (parpadee) varias veces. – Blink several times.
- Voy a ponerle unas gotas en los ojos para dilatarle las pupilas. – I’m going to put some drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils.
- Puede arder un segundo. – It might sting for a second.
- No se frote los ojos. – Don’t rub your eyes.
- Su visión puede estar borrosa y la luz puede molestarle por unas horas. – Your vision may be blurry and light may bother you for a few hours.
- Es mejor que no maneje hasta que se le pase el efecto de las gotas. – It’s best that you not drive until the effect of the drops wears off.
7. Sample Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Red, Burning Eye (Optometrist & Patient)
O = Optometrista / P = Paciente
O: Buenos días, señor Gómez. Pase y tome asiento. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar hoy? – Good morning, Mr. Gómez. Come in and have a seat. How can I help you today?
P: Buenos días, doctora. Fíjese que desde hace tres días tengo el ojo derecho muy rojo y me molesta mucho. – Good morning, doctor. You know, for the past three days my right eye has been very red and is bothering me a lot.
O: Entiendo. ¿Siente dolor, ardor o comezón? – I understand. Do you feel pain, burning, or itching?
P: Siento mucho ardor, como si tuviera arena dentro del ojo. Y por las mañanas amanezco con muchas lagañas. – I feel a lot of burning, as if there were sand in my eye. And in the mornings I wake up with a lot of discharge.
O: Comprendo. Esa sensación de tener algo adentro es muy incómoda. ¿Ha notado visión borrosa o cambios en cómo ve? – I understand. That sensation of having something inside is very uncomfortable. Have you noticed blurry vision or changes in how you see?
P: Un poco borroso a veces, pero creo que es por las mismas lágrimas y la secreción. – A bit blurry at times, but I think that’s due to the tears and the discharge itself.
O: De acuerdo. ¿Lleva puestos lentes de contacto en este momento o usa anteojos? – All right. Are you wearing contact lenses right now, or do you wear glasses?
P: Uso anteojos para leer, pero no lentes de contacto. – I wear reading glasses, but not contact lenses.
O: Bien. Vamos a hacer un examen rápido. Por favor, mire hacia el frente y siga la punta de mi linterna solo con los ojos, sin mover la cabeza… Muy bien. Ahora cúbrase el ojo izquierdo con esta tarjeta y lea las letras de la tercera línea del cartel. – All right. We’re going to do a quick exam. Please look straight ahead and follow the tip of my penlight with your eyes only, without moving your head… Very good. Now cover your left eye with this card and read the letters on the third line of the chart.
P: E… P… T… Z… O.
O: Perfecto. Le voy a poner unas gotas para examinar la córnea. Puede arder un segundo. Parpadee varias veces, por favor. – Perfect. I’m going to put in some drops to examine the cornea. It might sting for a second. Please blink a few times.
P: De acuerdo, doctora. All right, doctor.
Dialogue 2: Floaters and Flashes (Ophthalmologist & Patient)
Doctor: Buenas tardes, señora Ramírez. ¿Qué la trae por aquí hoy? – Good afternoon, Mrs. Ramírez. What brings you in today?
Patient: Buenas tardes, doctor. Desde ayer veo muchas manchitas negras que flotan, y a veces veo como lucecitas. – Good afternoon, doctor. Since yesterday I see a lot of little black spots floating, and sometimes I see little flashes of light.
Doctor: Entiendo. ¿En cuál ojo las ve? ¿En el derecho, el izquierdo o en ambos? – I understand. In which eye do you see them? The right, the left, or both?
Patient: Solo en el ojo izquierdo. – Only in the left eye.
Doctor: ¿Comenzó de repente? ¿Siente como una cortina o una sombra en alguna parte de la vista? – Did it start suddenly? Do you feel like a curtain or shadow over any part of your vision?
Patient: Sí, empezó de repente. Y creo que en la orilla veo como una sombra. – Yes, it started suddenly. And I think at the edge I see a kind of shadow.
Doctor: Gracias por decírmelo. ¿Sufrió algún golpe en el ojo o la cabeza? – Thank you for telling me. Did you suffer any blow to the eye or head?
Patient: No, ningún golpe. Pero soy muy miope y tengo diabetes. – No, no blow. But I’m very nearsighted and I have diabetes.
Doctor: Bien. Estos síntomas necesitan atención rápida, así que voy a examinarle la retina hoy mismo. Le voy a poner unas gotas para dilatarle las pupilas. Puede arder un segundo. – Okay. These symptoms need prompt attention, so I’m going to examine your retina today. I’m going to put in some drops to dilate your pupils. It might sting for a second.
Patient: ¿Es grave, doctor? – Is it serious, doctor?
Doctor: Todavía no lo sé. Por eso es importante examinarla ahora. Después de las gotas, su visión va a estar borrosa y la luz le va a molestar. Es mejor que no maneje; ¿alguien puede llevarla a casa? – I don’t know yet. That’s why it’s important to examine you now. After the drops, your vision will be blurry and light will bother you. It’s best that you not drive; can someone take you home?
Tips for Eye Exams with Spanish-Speaking Patients
Narrate before you touch or shine a light Bright lights, drops, and instruments near the face can be startling. A quick “Voy a acercarle una luz” (I’m going to bring a light close) or “Voy a ponerle unas gotas” (I’m going to put in some drops) helps patients stay calm and still.
Ask which eye, every time Patients often say “el ojo” without specifying. Always confirm: “¿El derecho, el izquierdo o ambos?” Pointing while you ask helps if the patient is nervous or unsure.
Let patients describe in their own words Descriptions like “como si tuviera arena” (like I have sand) or “veo como un velo” (I see like a veil) are clinically useful. Pair open questions with specific follow-ups, and don’t be surprised by colorful phrases. They’re giving you valuable information.
Use simple instructions for the chart Not every patient reads the alphabet in the same way, and some patients may have limited literacy. If a patient hesitates with letters, offer alternatives like numbers, shapes, or the “E” chart (“Muéstreme hacia dónde apuntan las patitas de la E”, show me which way the legs of the E point), and be patient and encouraging.
Warn patients about the effects of dilation Always explain blurry near vision, light sensitivity, and the driving restriction before dilating, not after: “Después de las gotas, la luz le va a molestar y va a ver borroso por unas horas. Le recomiendo traer lentes de sol y alguien que lo/la lleve a casa.” (After the drops, light will bother you and you’ll see blurry for a few hours. I recommend bringing sunglasses and someone to take you home.)
Recognize emergencies early Sudden vision loss, a curtain-like shadow, flashes with new floaters, severe pain, chemical exposure, or trauma need urgent attention. Ask clearly and escalate quickly.
Watch your false friends Lente in Spanish can mean “lens” or, in the plural, “glasses” (los lentes). And contacto means contact, but lentes de contacto is the full term, so patients may say “mis lentes” when they mean either glasses or contacts. Clarify: “¿Se refiere a anteojos o a lentes de contacto?” (Do you mean glasses or contact lenses?)
Close with understanding End the visit by confirming comprehension: “¿Tiene alguna pregunta sobre las gotas o los cuidados en casa?” (Do you have any questions about the drops or home care?) A teach-back, such as “¿Me puede decir cómo va a usar las gotas?” (Can you tell me how you’ll use the drops?), confirms the patient understood.
Want to keep building your Medical Spanish? Check out our related guides on blood work in Spanish, comfort questions for hospitalized patients in Spanish, and our full Medical Spanish vocabulary series.
