A medical lighting device has an operating area light (100), a central control station (11), a lighting control unit (7), a control unit (39), an image detection element (27), an image processing unit (29), reference elements (67, 69), an operating unit (200), a position sensor (25), an operating element (33) arranged at a handle (31), a marking and distance detection element (35) and a device for data transmission (13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 28). A horizontal-vertical position (58) of the operating unit (200) in the room and a light marking position (38) on a reclining surface (99) are determined by the position sensor (25), the marking and distance detection element (35), the image detection element (27) combined with reference elements (67, 69) and image processing unit (29). The operating area light (100) is actuated such that an illuminated area (71) is illuminated on the reclining surface.
