Abstract: The invention provides a scanning ophthalmoscope for scanning the retina of an eye and method of operating the same. The scanning ophthalmoscope comprises a source of collimated light, a first scanning element and a second scanning element. The source of collimated light and the first and second scanning elements combine to provide a two-dimensional collimated light scan from an apparent point source. The scanning ophthalmoscope further comprises a scan transfer device, wherein the scan transfer device is a reflective element and has two foci and the apparent point source is provided at a first focus of the scan transfer device and an eye is accommodated at a second focus of the scan transfer device, and wherein the scan transfer device transfers the two-dimensional collimated light scan from the apparent point source into the eye.