1. A method for identifying scan coordinate values (φ n , θ n ) for operating a scanning unit ( 28 ) of a confocal scanning microscope ( 20 ), the method comprising: identifying spherical scan coordinate values (φ n , θ n ) as a function of Cartesian image coordinates (X n , Y n ) of image points of an image ( 60 ) to be created of a sample ( 32 ), with the aid of a coordinate transformation of the Cartesian image coordinate values (X n , Y n ) into a spherical coordinate system, and operating the scanning unit ( 28 ) as a function of the spherical scan coordinate values (φ n , θ n ).