MOLDING APPARATUS AND METHOD

A method of molding precision glass optical elements or lenses is disclosed. Precision molded glass molds are first provided which define a glass mold cavity having a predetermined desired size, shape and volume corresponding to the glass optical element. To facilitate formation of the glass optical elements, shaped and polished preforms are formed. An apparatus for molding glass optical elements by means of at least one molded glass mold is disclosed. The optical element, which may be a lens and which may be formed of glass, is molded within an apparatus that comprises a pair of molds of which at least one is a molded glass mold, a contraining means and a ring disposed intermediate the molds. The interior diameter of the ring and the mold surfaces of the molds comprise the optical element molding cavity.