Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making an optical device, such as a photo diode or vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The method entails forming an active device within a substrate, forming a layer of surfactant over the active device; injecting microlens material over the surfactant layer directly above the active device, and curing the injected microlens material to form a microlens over the surfactant layer above the active device, such that the active device is capable of receiving or transmitting an optical signal by way of the microlens. An inkjet printing device may be used to inject the microlens material over the active device.