Binocular ophthalmoscope

A binocular ophthalmoscope for directing illuminating light to an object being viewed and directing light from the illuminated object comprising;

• a first stage that is movable along a viewing direction,
• a first mirror assembly that is carried on said first stage and oriented to direct light from said illuminated object along a first path and a second path which are transverse to said viewing direction,
• a pair of mirrors or prisms mounted to reflect light along the first path and second path,
• a second stage that is movable along said viewing direction and is adjustably mounted relative to said first stage to selectively have movement with said first stage or movement relative to said first stage and the first mirror assembly, and
• a second mirror that is carried on said second stage and oriented to direct light from a source to said object, said light traveling from said source along a second path that is transverse to the viewing direction, the second mirror being movable with the first stage along the viewing direction, or alternatively, being movable relative to the first stage.

A binocular ophthalmoscope comprising:

• a support structure;
• a viewing mirror assembly centrally mounted for movement along a viewing direction on said support structure, said viewing mirror assembly having mirror mounted to provide two optical paths generally perpendicular to said viewing direction and extending in opposite directions from said viewing mirror assembly;
• a pair of spaced prisms mounted on said support structure on opposite sides of said viewing mirror assembly along respective said optical paths and spaced from each other by the distance between the viewer's eyes, said spaced prisms being oriented to redirect said optical paths from said assembly so as to be generally parallel to said viewing direction and each other and spaced from each other by said distance equal to the spacing between the viewer's eyes;
• an ocular lens in front of said viewing mirror assembly providing parallel light rays from the ocular lens to said viewing mirror assembly and along said paths to the viewer's eyes whereby a telecentric lens is formed, the spaced prisms being mounted on said support structure on opposite sides of said assembly along respective said optical paths and spaced from each other by the distance between the viewer's eyes, said prisms each having surfaces providing a plurality of reflections to redirect said optical paths entering said prism so a to exit said prism along paths that are generally parallel to said viewing direction and each other and spaced from each other by said distance equal to the spacing between the viewer's eyes, said reflective surfaces causing said optical path to cross its paths within said prism so as to increase the length of the path, said reflective surfaces also causing the image to be inverted vertically and horizontally.