Optical instrument

An optical instrument is a device that processes light waves (or photons), either to enhance an image for viewing or to analyze and determine their characteristic properties.

Common examples include periscopes, microscopes, telescopes, and cameras.

Since the days of Galileo and Van Leeuwenhoek, these instruments have been greatly improved and extended into other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The binocular device is a generally compact instrument for both eyes designed for mobile use.

Surface plasmon resonance-based instruments use refractometry to measure and analyze biomolecular interactions.

An illustration of some of the optical devices available for laboratory work in England in 1858.