ILLUMINATION AND OBSERVATION SYSTEM FOR AN OPHTHALMIC MICROSCOPE, OPHTHALMIC MICROSCOPE AND MICROSCOPYING METHOD USING FOUR RED REFLEX OBSERVATION PUPILS

The invention relates to an Illumination and observation system (1) for a microscope (2), in particular a microscope for performing eye surgery, a microscope and a microscopying method. The Illumination and observation system (1) comprises a first, second, third and fourth observation pupil (4, 5, 8, 9) for the eyes of two observers such as a surgeon and an assistant, a coaxial illumination (6, 10, 11) in the first, third and fourth observation pupil (4, 8, 9) to generate a red reflex (13) in the first, third and fourth observation pupil (4, 8, 9), and a main illumination (7) in the second observation pupil (5). In order to provide a wide illumination of the surroundings, the main illumination has a larger field of illumination than the coaxial illumination (6, 10, 11) in any of the first, third and fourth observation pupil (4, 8, 9). To provide superior observation quality, in particular for the observer using the second observation pupil (5) and further to be able to generate a visible and homogenous red reflex in the second observation pupil (5), it is provided according to the invention that the main illumination overlaps at least 50 % with the second observation pupil (5) to generate a red reflex (13) in the second observation pupil (5). Further improvements relate to align the main illumination (7) within ±5° to an optical axis (12) of the second observation pupil (5) and to overlap the coaxial illumination (6, 10, 11) at least 50 % with the respective first, third and fourth observation pupil (4, 8, 9).