Yes, compound microscopes use light.
Compound microscopes use a system of lenses to magnify an image. To view a specimen under a compound microscope, light is transmitted through the sample (called transmitted light illumination). The light passes through the specimen and then through the objective lens and the ocular lens (eyepiece), resulting in a magnified image that the user can see. In order for transmitted light illumination to work effectively, larger or opaque objects often need to be sliced into thin sections, allowing the light to pass through more easily. The amount of light and how it is focused plays a crucial role in the quality of the image produced by a compound microscope.
