Method for thermally bonding together a cover film of an ophthalmic lens package, such as a contact lens package, in particular a soft contact lens package, and a base part of the ophthalmic lens package, the method comprising the steps of - providing a package holder supporting a base part comprising a depression containing an ophthalmic lens, and a cover film arranged on the base part; - mechanically pressing the cover film and the base part together along a bonding area having a shape completely enclosing the depression while applying heat to the bonding area, thereby thermally bonding together the cover film and the base part along the bonding area; characterized in that the step of providing the package holder supporting the base part includes arranging a flexible support element on an upper surface of the package holder to form a support area supporting the base part, the support area corresponding in shape to and being arranged in alignment with the bonding area, wherein the flexible support element has a flexibility which is higher than the flexibility of the base part, wherein the flexible support element is a ring, wherein the ring comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having a width which is larger than the width of the lower portion, and wherein the upper portion has a continuous top surface forming the support area, wherein the ring comprises fixation pins formed at the lower portion of the ring, wherein the upper surface of the package holder comprises a support structure having a support structure upper surface corresponding in shape to the shape of the bonding area and having a groove in the support structure upper surface, with the lower portion of the ring being arranged in the groove and with the upper portion of the ring protruding from the support structure upper surface, and wherein the groove extends only essentially completely along the support structure upper surface so that the groove has a first end and a second end to form a web between the first end and the second end of the groove, and wherein the lower portion of the ring arranged in the groove has a gap accommodating the web. - providing a package holder supporting a base part comprising a depression containing an ophthalmic lens, and a cover film arranged on the base part; - mechanically pressing the cover film and the base part together along a bonding area having a shape completely enclosing the depression while applying heat to the bonding area, thereby thermally bonding together the cover film and the base part along the bonding area; wherein the flexible support element has a flexibility which is higher than the flexibility of the base part, wherein the flexible support element is a ring, wherein the ring comprises a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having a width which is larger than the width of the lower portion, and wherein the upper portion has a continuous top surface forming the support area, wherein the ring comprises fixation pins formed at the lower portion of the ring, wherein the upper surface of the package holder comprises a support structure having a support structure upper surface corresponding in shape to the shape of the bonding area and having a groove in the support structure upper surface, with the lower portion of the ring being arranged in the groove and with the upper portion of the ring protruding from the support structure upper surface, and wherein the groove extends only essentially completely along the support structure upper surface so that the groove has a first end and a second end to form a web between the first end and the second end of the groove, and wherein the lower portion of the ring arranged in the groove has a gap accommodating the web.