An illuminated microsurgical instrument (46,48,50,51) includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber (56) for delivering a beam of light (70) to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end (60) for receiving a light beam from a light source (72), and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end (76) includes a beveled end face oriented away from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument.
