TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - IMAGING AND COMMUNICATION - Preferred Method: Forming the solid immersion lens comprises forming a cured bottom layer in a mold container; disposing a predetermined amount of molding material to form a second uncured layer on the bottom layer according to the desired height of the solid immersion lens to be formed; embedding a spherical form into the second layer so that the spherical form rests on the bottom layer; curing the second layer with the spherical form in place; removing the spherical form from the cured second layer; disposing a predetermined amount of optical grade silicone rubber into the cured second layer according to the desired height of the solid immersion lens to be formed and according to the thickness of a base layer to be associated with the solid immersion lens; curing the silicone rubber in the second layer to form a cured solid immersion lens and base layer; and removing the cured solid immersion lens and base layer from the second layer. Forming Fresnel lens having upper and lower surfaces comprises forming a cured bottom layer (46) in a mold (44) container; pressing a Fresnel lens (48) form into the bottom layer so that the lower surface of the Fresnel lens form is completely embedded into the bottom layer; completely covering the upper surface of the Fresnel lens form with molding material to form a second layer in which the Fresnel lens form is embedded; curing the second layer with the Fresnel lens form in place; removing the cured second layer; removing the Fresnel lens form from the bottom layer; disposing optical grade silicone rubber into a mold formed by the cured second layer and bottom layer; curing the optical grade silicone rubber in the mold to form a Fresnel lens; and removing the cured Fresnel lens from the mold. Forming the Fresnel and solid immersion lenses comprises using GE Silicones RTV615 as the optical grade silicone rubber. It comprises mixing not more than 9 pbw silicone rubber compound and 1 pbw silicone curing agent, and defoaming the mixed silicone rubber compound and a silicone curing agent.