Surgical microscopes are worth thirty thousand dollars and up. It’s possible to find cheaper ones, but they’re most probably secondhand or refurbished. If you’re considering investing in a surgical microscope to bulk up your clinic, here are several things you need to know.

Where, When, and How Surgical Microscopes are Used

Ophthalmology – This branch of medicine mainly tackles the diseases of the eye and surrounding areas. There are times when ophthalmologists are also consulted regarding brain diseases because of the brain’s proximity to the eye. Ophthalmology also involves the study of diseases affecting animal eyes since the difference between them and the human eye is quite minor. Ophthalmologists are commonly surgeons as well because of the operations they often have to perform to cure eye diseases.

Surgical microscopes used in ophthalmology differ in purpose and features. Some models have built-in floor stands while others are wall-mounted. Some may come with apochromatic lenses and enhancement systems.

Otolaryngology – This is the more formal term for Ear, Nose, and Throat or ENT. Otolaryngology, however, deals more specifically not only with ENT but with head and neck disorders as well. They are, once more, commonly surgeons because of the frequent need for performing surgical procedures to cure or correct human condition. After residency training, otolaryngologists may continue on to have an expertise in a particular subspeciality and requiring an additional one to three years’ worth of education.

The good news is that most surgical microscopes used in ophthalmology may be used in ENT as well and vice versa. Some surgical microscopes used in ENT may come with five-step magnification changers and can handle various types of objectives and binoculars. Some are multipurpose and able to check ears, nose, and throat, put in ear wicks, and do tubes. They come with straight heads for ENT observations and inclined ones for ophthalmology. Mounts may be available to view resulting videos.

Neurology – This particular branch of medicine deals with all the disorders afflicting a person’s nervous system. Pediatric neurology is one of its subspecialties and deals primarily with neurological disorders afflicting children.

Surgical microscopes are used in neurology to detect the extent of damage, possible causes of the disorder, and provide other clues regarding the internal condition of the affected areas. They are also more expensive – usually double the price – than surgical microscopes used in ophthalmology and ENT. Scanning electron microscopes are also occasionally used in neurology.

Dentistry – Also referred to as dental medicine, this branch of science or art, as some like to call it, deals with prevention, screening, and treatment of anything that affects a person’s teeth and surrounding areas like the gums. Medication is usually administered as a step for primary care but if that doesn’t work, surgery may then be advised.

Surgical microscopes are used in dentistry to study affected areas in greater detail and clarity, identifying cracks, locating canals, removing posts and broken instruments, and repairing what needs repairing.

Price range for surgical microscopes used in dentistry will depend mainly on the user’s objectives and needs.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Surgical Microscopes

Brand Name – Carl Zeiss, Leica, and Prescott are the largest and most well-known manufacturers of surgical microscopes and indeed, other types of microscopes as well. It’s best to purchase surgical microscopes bearing any of their names rather than cheaper but lesser known ones because you can rest assured that none of your surgical procedures could end up going wrong due to mechanical malfunctioning.

Physical Space – Contrary to popular opinion, not all surgical microscopes are compact and can be placed on your desktops. Some are large enough to require floor stands. If you don’t have sufficient space for a floor stand surgical microscope, consider having a wall mount one.

Ergonomics – Choose one that’s built to provide you the utmost comfort while using it. For surgical microscopes in dentistry, for instance, there are models in the market that are designed to relieve the strain and pressure on your back and neck while you’re bent down treating your patient. Look for surgical microscopes that can be adjusted to the fullest degrees so that even hard-to-reach parts can still be viewable.

When purchasing a wall mount surgical microscope, look for one that has adjustable flex and swim arm length so that you won’t need to move the patient around several times just to get the “perfect” view.

Miscellaneous – Always read the terms and conditions of your purchase. Look for at least a five-year warranty because you’ll be shelling out a lot of money on your purchase. And lastly, purchases of surgical microscopes usually come with freebies like extra bulbs and dust covers so make sure yours come with them, too!