An illuminated and modular surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical field, said surgical retractor comprising: a handle ergonomically designed to fit in a surgeon's hand; a retractor blade releasably coupled with the handle, the retractor blade adapted to engage tissue and retract the tissue in a retraction direction; a quick release mechanism adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade, wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle in a direction transverse to the retraction direction, wherein the quick release mechanism comprises (i) an engagement element disposed on either the handle or the retractor blade, (ii) a receptacle on the other of the handle and the retractor blade, the receptacle sized to receive the engagement element, and (iii) an actuation mechanism for sliding or otherwise moving the engagement element, relative to the component on which it is disposed, between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the engaged position is defined by the handle being locked with the retractor blade, and wherein the disengaged position is defined by the handle being allowed to be released from the retractor blade; an illuminator blade releasably coupled with the handle and disposed adjacent the retractor blade, the illuminator blade having a light input portion, a light conducting portion, and a light output portion, wherein the illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light from the light input portion through the light conducting portion to the light output portion by total internal reflection, and wherein the light is extracted from the light output portion to illuminate the surgical field, wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle, and wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source. a handle ergonomically designed to fit in a surgeon's hand; a retractor blade releasably coupled with the handle, the retractor blade adapted to engage tissue and retract the tissue in a retraction direction; a quick release mechanism adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade, wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle in a direction transverse to the retraction direction, wherein the quick release mechanism comprises (i) an engagement element disposed on either the handle or the retractor blade, (ii) a receptacle on the other of the handle and the retractor blade, the receptacle sized to receive the engagement element, and (iii) an actuation mechanism for sliding or otherwise moving the engagement element, relative to the component on which it is disposed, between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein the engaged position is defined by the handle being locked with the retractor blade, and wherein the disengaged position is defined by the handle being allowed to be released from the retractor blade; an illuminator blade releasably coupled with the handle and disposed adjacent the retractor blade, the illuminator blade having a light input portion, a light conducting portion, and a light output portion, wherein the illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light from the light input portion through the light conducting portion to the light output portion by total internal reflection, and wherein the light is extracted from the light output portion to illuminate the surgical field, wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle, and wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source.