simple microscope

A simple microscope, also known as a loupe, uses a single lens to magnify objects. While early simple microscopes used a single lens, modern versions often employ multiple glass elements for better color correction. These can be worn as eye loupes or jeweler's lenses. Historically, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek used single-lensed microscopes of his own making to pioneer the field of microbiology in the 1670s, observing microorganisms with remarkable detail.12

The effectiveness of a microscope is limited by its resolving power, which is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced points. This is influenced by factors like illumination and contrast. For high magnifications, the wavelength of light becomes a critical consideration due to diffraction. The numerical aperture (N.A.) of the objective lens, which relates to its light-gathering ability, also plays a key role in determining resolution. Using immersion techniques with liquids of a higher refractive index can further improve resolution by effectively shortening the wavelength of light.34