This work deals with optical devices in medicine and industrial automation. The first chapter describes a design to integrate retinal imaging into a virtual reality headset. Conventional methods of retinal imaging require patients to sit still and follow instructions. The headset is meant to facilitate testing of toddlers and autistic children. The second chapter covers optics in industrial automation, specifically the localization of objects. The feasibility of a rapid, non-contact, high accuracy stereo vision system is explored. Active stereo vision using zoom and rotation of cameras is modelled. Inherent errors in sensors reduce the potential accuracy. This chapter calculates the highest possible accuracy achievable using off the shelf components, when the cameras are placed one - five meters away.