Gradient index optics is the branch of optics covering optical effects produced by a gradual variation of the refractive index of a material.

An example of gradient index optics is the common mirage of a pool of water appearing on a road on a hot day. The pool is actually an image of the sky, apparently located on the road since light rays are being refracted (bent) from their normal straight path. This due to the variation of refractive index between the hot, less dense air at the surface of the road, and the denser cool air above it. The variation in temperature (and thus density) of the air causes a gradient in its refractive index, causing it to increase with height. This index gradient causes refraction of light rays (at a shallow angle to the road) from the sky, bending them into eye of the viewer, with their apparent location being the road's surface.

This bending effect is exploited in a gradient-index (GRIN) lens. This a device with a radially-decreasing refractive index (usually a parabolically shaped index profile). A slab of this material acts like a conventional converging lens, but does not need to be shaped like one, simplifying the mounting of the lens. GRIN lenses are commonly used where many very small lenses are needed to be mounted together, such as in photocopiers and scanners.

Certain optical fibres are also made with a radially-varing refractive index profile; this design strongly reduces the modal dispersion of a multi-mode optical fibre.

The lens of a human eye also uses a radially-decreasing index gradient, as well as its shape, to focus light.

One of the most important advantage of the GRIN lens to classical lens is the ability to have flat surfaces. This fact is very important for creating a good quality joint between lens and, for example, optical fiber.

The most popular production method of the glass-made GRIN lens is ion exchange. For example, glass sample with Na⁺ ions could be immersed into liquid melt with Li⁺ ions and during the diffusion process Na would be partially exchanged with Li. Thus the sample obtains the gradient structure and the gradient of the refractive index as a result.