Abstract: A method for fluorescence microscopy of a sample. The method includes illuminating the sample with excitation radiation of a microscope through an illumination beam path and imaging along an optical axis to an image field on a camera chip, the illumination beam path having an adjustable diaphragm for selective illumination of a target area; selecting an area on the sample as a target area; and adjusting an adjustable diaphragm for selective illumination of the target area such that parts of the sample lying outside of the selected area are not illuminated with excitation radiation.