ocul-

Ocul- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “eye” or “ocular,” a term that means “of or relating to the eye.” It occurs in a few medical and scientific terms.

Ocul- comes from the Latin oculus, meaning “eye.” See more about oculus at our entry for the word. The Greek word for “eye” is ophthalmós, source of the combining form ophthalmo-. Related to ophthalmós is ṓps, Greek for “eye” or “face,” and source of such combining forms as -opia, -opsia, and opto-.

Ocul- is a variant of oculo-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use oculo- article.

An oculist is a former word for an ophthalmologist or optometrist, which are kinds of eye doctors.

The ocul- portions of the word refers to “eye,” and -ist denotes someone who practices or is concerned with something.  So, an oculist has a literal sense of an “eye specialist.” Oculist was borrowed into English from the French oculiste.

What are some words that use or are related to the combining form ocul-?

• ocularist
• oculate
• oculauditory
• oculism

What are some other forms that ocul- may be commonly confused with?

• octo-
• octa-
• oct-

Based on the meaning of ocul-, what organ does an animal that is oculate possess?