1. A system for forming a stabilized virtual image of a region of a patient's eye comprising a support and a contact element structure which is supported by the support so as to move with small rotational eye movements transverse to an optical axis about a pivot point which is outside the eye and defined by the intersection of two axes orthogonal to the optical axis, the contact element structure comprises a negative objective lens and a transparent plate having a surface shaped so as to contact the cornea of the patient's eye and move with a rotational action against the cornea in response to the eye movements, the negative objective lens being positioned with respect to the transparent plate so as to form the stabilized virtual image wherein the image does not move with the eye movements.