An adjusting device (3) is suitable especially for use on a stand (1) for a surgical microscope (2). The adjusting device (3) makes it possible to move the surgical microscope (2) in a plane (9) perpendicular to the optical axis (8) of the surgical microscope (2). For this purpose, a transmission is provided in the adjusting device (3) which includes a coupling plate which is operatively connected to two force-transmitting elements. When this transmission is moved, at least one of the force-transmitting elements rolls off on the coupling plate. Alternatively, this transmission can be built up as a four-point linkage chain or contain a rhombic mechanism or lever mechanism. It is also possible to configure the transmission with belt elements or to configure the same as an eccentric arrangement having two offset rotation centers.