A retinal imager (1000) for imaging a retina of an eye (1010) includes an illumination source (1020) operable to generate illumination light and a beam splitter (520) operable to receive the illumination light and direct the illumination light along an optical axis. The retinal imager also includes a field lens (512, 1120) disposed along the optical axis and an objective lens (510) disposed along the optical axis and operable to contact a cornea of the eye. An aerial image is formed adjacent to the field lens (512, 1120). The retinal imager further includes an image sensor (562) and one or more lenses (540) disposed along the optical axis between the beam splitter (520) and the image sensor (562). The one or more lenses (540) are operable to form a sensor image at the image sensor (562).