A variable-angle, wide-angle illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment beinga small-gauge, variable-angle illumination surgical system comprising: alight source for providing a light beam； an optical cable, optically coupledto the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam； a handpiece,operably coupled to the optical cable； an optical fiber, operably coupled tothe handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the opticalcable to receive and transmit the light beam； an optical assembly, opticallycoupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and providingthe light beam to illuminate a surgical field； and a cannula, operably coupledto the handpiece and optical assembly, for housing and directing the opticalassembly to illuminate a selected area, such as a surgical site. The optical assemblycan comprise, for example, a fiber/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal ("PDLC")diffuser optically coupled to an optical needle or a nested compound parabolicconcentrator ("CPC") cone. In the PDLC diffuser/needle embodiment,the fiber can be a standard endo-illuminator optical fiber with 0.50 NA or similarvalue. The light beam from the light source is emitted from the distal end of theoptical fiber and provided to the PDLC diffuser for further transmission. Thedegree of diffusion of the light beam at the PDLC diffuser can be electricallycontrolled and can be varied from no diffusion to very high degree of diffusion.After passing through the PDLC diffuser, the light beam is provided to a needleor fiber, such as a glass needle or fiber, that transmits the light beam to the surgicalsite in the eye.
