The history of these microscopes dates back as far as surgery began. The early beginnings of these instruments started with the frequency of use of binocular loupes in general surgery; paralleled by the increasing use of these was the development of new and finer instruments leading to specializations in the field, more advanced techniques, and better instrumentation. As early as 1949, other specialties encountered surgical problems requiring an increased technical accuracy and better visualization of the operative field, thus began to use higher magnification and finer instruments. Surgeons demanded higher magnification and movability thus the head-supported loupe arose. Even more, other variations of a basic instrument designed as a culposcope in 1949 were invented to suit surgeons needs..

Although some ophthalmologists showed little interest at that time in instrumentation, mainly because of the skills required to operate such, specialization in the field showed the potential use of these instruments in ophthalmic surgeries. Advances in magnification and ease in the use of these new equipments gave way to microtechniques in surgery and attracted more and more surgeons into instrumentation. The details in surgeries such as for cataracts made surgeons begin to desire the improvement of their instruments. Soon studies of optics resulted in the advancement of features; higher resolution, continuous zoom, and higher accuracy. Effects of the rapidly growing technology gave birth to numerous changes in the instruments used by ophthalmic surgeons; incorporation of a display device, motorized motion, eye protection filters, integrated slit lamps, and many more features can now consistent in present day ophthalmic microscopes.