required an embodiment of the variable angle wide angle illuminator of this invention can comprise a light diffusive optical assembly a stem and a handpiece fabricated from biocompatible polymeric materials such that the invasive portion of the wide angle illuminator is a disposable surgical item embodiments of this invention fabricated from biocompatible polymeric materials can be integrated into a low cost articulated handpiece mechanism such that these embodiments can comprise an inexpensive disposable illuminator instrument the pdlc diffuser embodiments of the present invention rely on the principle that liquid crystal molecules are rotated by the presence of an electric field with no electric field the liquid crystal molecules are randomly oriented and the pdlc layer is highly diffusing as an electric field is applied and strengthened the liquid crystal molecules become increasingly lined up parallel to the electric field with a sufficient electric field strength the liquid crystal molecules are lined up and the pdlc layer is essentially non diffusive the nested cpc cone embodiments of the present invention rely on the principle that light within a cpc cone is confined by total internal reflection of rays off of the surface air interface thus as long as the male cpc cone of various embodiments of this invention is surrounded by air the light transmitted within the cpc cone will be confined within the male cpc cone and will funnel down to the end of the cpc cone where it will be emitted from the cone distal end with a high angular spread however if an air gap between.