A variable-angle, wide-angle illuminator comprises: a light source providinga light beam； an optical cable for receiving/transmitting the light beam； ahandpiece；an optical fiber to receive/transmit the light beam； an optical assembly forreceivingthe light beam and providing it to illuminate a surgical field； and a cannulaforhousing and directing the optical assembly. The optical assembly can compriseafiber/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal (`PDLC') diffuser coupled to an opticalneedleor a nested compound parabolic concentrator cone. The light beam is emittedfromthe distal end of the optical fiber and provided to the PDLC diffuser and thena needleor fiber for transmission to the surgical site. The degree of diffusion of thelight beamat the PDLC diffuser can be electrically controlled.
