Vitreoretinal surgery, Vitreoretinal illumination system provides the bright, white illumination used for vitreoretinal surgery. It utilizes a metal halide discharge lamp, which is a more efficient source of high quality illumination. This exceptional illumination quality provides a color consistency, which is well suited for vitreoretinal surgery. It has also responded to clinical concerns regarding minimizing the incidence of phototoxicity, especially when surgical conditions dictate working close to the retina.