The invention relates to a system for controlling and/or operating a medical device (30) associated with a display (20 50) on which medical images (24) and/or control and/or operating elements (21, 22, 25) are displayed, wherein the system comprises: &mdasha light pointer (10 40) which projects a delimited light cursor (14 44) &mdasha light detection device which is associated with the display and comprises a sensor (23) for determining the presence and location of the light cursor (14 44) projected by the light pointer (10 40) and&mdasha converter (26) which converts the captured presence and location information into control and/or operating commands for the medical device. The invention also relates to a method for controlling and/or operating a medical device (30) associated with a display (20 50) on which medical images (24) and/or control and/or operating elements (21, 22, 25) are displayed, wherein a delimited light cursor (14 44) is projected onto the display (20 50) by means of a light pointer (10 40), wherein the presence and location on the display (20 50) of the light cursor (14 44) projected by the light pointer (10 40) is detected by means of a sensor (23), and wherein the captured presence and location information is converted into control and/or operating commands for the medical device (30).
