A microscopy system, comprising: an incubator configured to hold at least one cell in a fluid, wherein the incubator includes a lid placed on top of the incubator; a microscope, which includes a high-numerical aperture objective lens that focusses electromagnetic radiation on the at least one cell and a light analyzer element, wherein the high-numerical aperture objective lens is arranged to focus the electromagnetic radiation through a bottom of the incubator and the light analyzer element is arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation through the lid; and a catadioptric high-aperture optical element comprising: a substrate made of a transparent material; and a lens formed on the substrate, wherein the lens includes, plural refractive features formed on a central portion of the lens, and plural reflective features formed on a ring portion of the lens, wherein the plural refractive features are shaped to refract light incoming from the substrate and the plural reflective features are shaped to achieve total internal reflections with the light incoming from the substrate, wherein the catadioptric high-aperture optical element has a total height smaller than 500 μm, wherein the optical element is placed inside of the incubator, below the lid, and in the fluid so that at least the substrate is in direct contact with the fluid and so that at least the electromagnetic radiation focused by the high-numerical aperture objective lens passes first through the substrate and then through the lens. an incubator configured to hold at least one cell in a fluid, wherein the incubator includes a lid placed on top of the incubator; a microscope, which includes a high-numerical aperture objective lens that focusses electromagnetic radiation on the at least one cell and a light analyzer element, wherein the high-numerical aperture objective lens is arranged to focus the electromagnetic radiation through a bottom of the incubator and the light analyzer element is arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation through the lid; and a catadioptric high-aperture optical element comprising: a substrate made of a transparent material; and a lens formed on the substrate, wherein the lens includes, plural refractive features formed on a central portion of the lens, and plural reflective features formed on a ring portion of the lens, wherein the plural refractive features are shaped to refract light incoming from the substrate and the plural reflective features are shaped to achieve total internal reflections with the light incoming from the substrate, wherein the catadioptric high-aperture optical element has a total height smaller than 500 μm, wherein the optical element is placed inside of the incubator, below the lid, and in the fluid so that at least the substrate is in direct contact with the fluid and so that at least the electromagnetic radiation focused by the high-numerical aperture objective lens passes first through the substrate and then through the lens. a substrate made of a transparent material; and a lens formed on the substrate, wherein the lens includes, plural refractive features formed on a central portion of the lens, and plural reflective features formed on a ring portion of the lens, wherein the plural refractive features are shaped to refract light incoming from the substrate and the plural reflective features are shaped to achieve total internal reflections with the light incoming from the substrate, wherein the catadioptric high-aperture optical element has a total height smaller than 500 μm, wherein the optical element is placed inside of the incubator, below the lid, and in the fluid so that at least the substrate is in direct contact with the fluid and so that at least the electromagnetic radiation focused by the high-numerical aperture objective lens passes first through the substrate and then through the lens.