ocular

American  

[ok-yuh-ler] / ˈɒk yə lər /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for the eyes.

   ocular movements.

2. of the nature of an eye.

   an ocular organ.

3. performed or perceived by the eye or eyesight.

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noun

1. Optics. eyepiece.

ocular British  

/ ˈɒkjʊlə /

adjective

1. of or relating to the eye

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noun

1. another name for eyepiece

ocular Scientific  

/ ŏk′yə-lər /

1. Of or relating to the eye or the sense of vision.

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1. The eyepiece of a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument.

Other Word Forms

• ocularly adverb
• preocular adjective
• subocular adjective
• subocularly adverb
• superocular adjective
• superocularly adverb
• transocular adjective
• unocular adjective

Etymology

Origin of ocular

1565–75; < Latin oculāris, equivalent to ocul ( us ) eye + -āris -ar ¹

Explanation

Ocular things have something to do with eyes or seeing. If you have what your doctor describes as "ocular pain," it means your eye hurts. The word ocular is a medical term meaning "of the eye." An ocular nerve connects to the eye, and an ocular specialist is an eye doctor. If you get an ocular exam, you'll have your vision tested or your eyes examined. If you get ocular damage from a stray baseball, you've got a hurt eyeball. Ocular comes from a Latin root, oculus, "an eye."

Example Sentences

Once replaced in the eye socket, T. Ocellus takes over the ocular pathways to the brain, overriding the neurotransmissions throughout the body.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2025

The researchers found 144,313 ocular surface irritation and allergy visits to ophthalmic clinics during the study period.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2024

Diaz Artiles and her team aim to collect cardiovascular responses using each countermeasure and compare effects on ocular perfusion pressure and other cardiovascular functions that may be affected by microgravity environments.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2024

The authors of this review concluded: “Saffron supplementation appears to have promising potential as an effective and safe adjunct therapy in certain ocular diseases” including AMD.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

It is unclear whether the blindness proceeded from the invasion of the disease in the ocular area or from an internal nervous disorganization attendant upon her distemper.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson