oculo-

Oculo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “eye” or “ocular,” a term that means “of or relating to the eye.” It is used in some medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Oculo- 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-.

What are variants of oculo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, oculo- becomes ocul-, as in oculist.

One example of a medical term that features the combining form oculo- is oculomotor, “moving or tending to move the eyeball,” as in oculomotor muscles.

We know that oculo- means “eye.” The –motor part of the word has a specific meaning in medical terms: it means “causing or producing motion,” especially used of nerves and muscles. So, oculomotor has a literal sense of “making the eye move.”

What are some words that use the combining form oculo-?

• oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia
• oculocerebrorenal syndrome
• oculocutaneous
• oculodermal melanosis
• oculofacial
• oculography
• oculogyria
• oculonasal

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

• octo-
• octa-

The word nasal means “of or relating to the nose.” With this in mind, what parts of the body does something oculonasal involve?