These components are listed in the first formulation handed down from Assyria (about 640 BC). In order to obtain coloring and other properties, additives, metals and rare earths are used.

Refraction can be varied by the refractive index of special types of optical glass, as well as by grinding, and thus can be used as a compensating strength for defective vision, namely in the form of eyeglasses. There are over 120 different types of optical glass.

Opal glass is made by frosting clear glass, or made as frosted translucent glass or as clear glass with white screen printing.

Depending on the type of glass and on the glass batch composition, the melting temperature is between approximately 1000 °C and 1600 °C (1832 °F and 2912 °F).