Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating a portion of a patient's body includes an enclosure having a generally smoothly curved shape, an internal light-scattering surface, and an opening. A light source provides light to a portion of the light-scattering surface within the enclosure so as to illuminate the surface via scattering of the light on the surface. An at least partially transparent member is positioned within the enclosure so that scattered light passes through it and through the opening.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus has instrumentation for performing an ophthalmic procedure on a patient's eye when the patient and the instrumentation are aligned with each other with respect to orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. The Z axis specifies the distance of the eye from the instrumentation. A signal generator generates an initiation signal to initiate alignment of the instrumentation and the eye. An X-Y alignment apparatus and a Z alignment apparatus each respond to the initiation signal to cause alignment along their respective axes and then determine when the instrumentation and the eye are in predetermined relative positions along the Z axis. The X-Y alignment apparatus and the Z alignment apparatus each generate a respective alignment signal. A controller receives the Z alignment signal and the X-Y alignment signal and issues a control signal to the instrumentation to perform an ophthalmic procedure in response to the alignment signals.