Abstract: A system for providing the situation-dependent real-time visual support to a surgeon during a surgical operation, and for real-time documentation and archiving of the visual impressions generated by the support system and perceived by the surgeon during the operation, has a visualization device for outputting data, to the surgeon during the surgical operation, a first video camera fixed to the visualization device, at least one second video camera focusing on the operating area from an angle of view that is different from that of the video camera of the visualization device, at least one central computing unit that is connected to the visualization device, to the video cameras, to operation monitoring components, and to computing devices, via a medical information system and the central computing unit has a front end merger that controls the visual presentation of data of the visualization device.