Abstract: Ambient light can cause a user to experience a loss of contrast of an object or subject under observation by the user via a microscope, particularly when the user is observing the object or subject using fluorescence microscopy. An embodiment of the present invention is an ambient light restrictor for a microscope. The ambient light restrictor defines a port to provide a user with access to oculars of the microscope. The restrictor may be freestanding and provide additional port(s) to enable physical access to the microscope or viewing region. Through use of the restrictor, ambient lights need not be turned off, in cases of indoor use, such as when dozens of microscopes are being used by many scientists in a laboratory, and, in cases of outdoor use, microscopes can be used with little to no loss of contrast of objects or subjects under observation.

Abstract: Ambient light can cause a user to experience a loss of contrast of an object or subject under observation by the user via a microscope, particularly when the user is observing the object or subject using fluorescence microscopy. An embodiment of the present invention is an ambient light restrictor for a microscope. The ambient light restrictor defines a port to provide a user with access to oculars of the microscope. The restrictor may be freestanding and provide additional port(s) to enable physical access to the microscope or viewing region. Through use of the restrictor, ambient lights need not be turned off, in cases of indoor use, such as when dozens of microscopes are being used by many scientists in a laboratory, and, in cases of outdoor use, microscopes can be used with little to no loss of contrast of objects or subjects under observation.