The microscope usually used for seeing living cells or tissues is

Phase contrast microscope was developed by Zernicke (1935, Nobel Prize 1953) to observe living cells and the events occurring in them (e.g., Spindle formation, movement of chromosomes, endocytosis, exocytosis). It is similar to optical microscope except that it has an annular diaphragm in the condenser and a transparent phase plate at the back focal plane of objective. The microscope converts differences in refractive indices into differences in brightness.