'autoptical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autoptikos', where 'autos' meant 'self' and 'opsis' meant 'sight'.

'autoptical' changed from the adjective 'autoptic' (from Late Latin/Greek 'autopticus'/'autoptikos') and eventually appeared in English as the variant 'autoptical' formed by adding the suffix '-al'.

Initially it meant 'seeing with one's own eyes' (from the Greek root), and over time it has been used as an adjective meaning 'relating to direct observation' or 'autoptic' in modern usage.