Fine motor movements of the surgeon's hands are limited by the resolution of the eye. Surgical loupes have allowed the profession of surgery to surpass this threshold. This is a review of the historical milestones that lead up to the development of the modern-day loupes. We explore the Greco-Roman history of the magnifying lens, its subsequent application to corrective eyewear centuries later, and the multiple ground-breaking advancements of the compound lens microscope. Moreover, we review the development of pre-modern loupes as each iteration improved through time. The aim of this historical review is to kindle an appreciation for the millennia of development that led to such instrumental modern-day technology.
Keywords: general surgery; history.