Final answer:
The combining form scler(o) refers to the sclera, which is the white part of the eye. The sclera forms the protective outer layer of the eyeball, and is significant but not directly involved in image formation, which is a function of the cornea, lens, and retina.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combining form scler(o) is closely associated with the term sclera, which refers to the white part of the eye, or the white outer layer of the eyeball. The sclera is a significant component of the eye's fibrous tunic, making up five-sixths of the eye's surface and providing structural integrity as well as protection for the inner components of the eye. When light enters the eye, it passes through the transparent cornea, which is the front part of the fibrous tunic, before reaching the internal structures such as the lens, which focuses light onto the retina.
It is the retina where the actual image is formed through photoreception. Therefore, the correct answer to the question asked by the student is option c. White of the eye.
It is worth noting that the sclera, being the white of the eye, is not directly involved with the formation of images or the process of adjusting focus. Those functions are mainly carried out by the cornea, lens, and nervous tissue of the retina. However, the integrity of the sclera is vital for the overall health and function of the eye.