Method for determining the topography of at least one section of an optically active surface of an article, in particular a lens, which has a first optically active surface and a second optically active surface, characterized by the following steps: determining the position of a multiplicity of points on or in the article, in particular the lens, by recording a first image of a section of the article, in particular the lens, in which the at least one point is arranged, in a first recording position, preferably referenced to the holding device, from a first recording direction, using a first imaging beam path, the article, in particular the lens, being illuminated by light that is coaxial with the first imaging beam path in the first recording direction, which light passes through the article, in particular the lens, and, after passing through the article, in particular the lens, is reflected back onto itself, so that the illuminating light passes through the article, in particular the lens, once more; recording at least one further image of the section of the article, in particular the lens, in which the at least one point is arranged, in at least one further recording position, preferably referenced to the holding device, which is different from the first recording position, from at least one further recording direction that is different from the first recording direction, using a further imaging beam path, the article, in particular the lens, being illuminated by light that is coaxial with the further imaging beam path in the at least one further recording direction, which light passes through the article, in particular the lens, and, after passing through the article, in particular the lens, is reflected back onto itself, so that the illuminating light passes through the article, in particular the lens, once more; and reconstructing spatial coordinates of the at least one point from image coordinates of the point in the first image and from image coordinates of the point in the at least one further image, calculating the topography of the at least one section of the optically active surface of the article, in particular the lens, from the determined position of the multiplicity of points, characterized in that on the basis of the determined position, points from the multiplicity of points of which the position has been determined are qualified as surface points lying on the first optically active surface or the second optically active surface. determining the position of a multiplicity of points on or in the article, in particular the lens, by recording a first image of a section of the article, in particular the lens, in which the at least one point is arranged, in a first recording position, preferably referenced to the holding device, from a first recording direction, using a first imaging beam path, the article, in particular the lens, being illuminated by light that is coaxial with the first imaging beam path in the first recording direction, which light passes through the article, in particular the lens, and, after passing through the article, in particular the lens, is reflected back onto itself, so that the illuminating light passes through the article, in particular the lens, once more; recording at least one further image of the section of the article, in particular the lens, in which the at least one point is arranged, in at least one further recording position, preferably referenced to the holding device, which is different from the first recording position, from at least one further recording direction that is different from the first recording direction, using a further imaging beam path, the article, in particular the lens, being illuminated by light that is coaxial with the further imaging beam path in the at least one further recording direction, which light passes through the article, in particular the lens, and, after passing through the article, in particular the lens, is reflected back onto itself, so that the illuminating light passes through the article, in particular the lens, once more; and reconstructing spatial coordinates of the at least one point from image coordinates of the point in the first image and from image coordinates of the point in the at least one further image, calculating the topography of the at least one section of the optically active surface of the article, in particular the lens, from the determined position of the multiplicity of points, characterized in that on the basis of the determined position, points from the multiplicity of points of which the position has been determined are qualified as surface points lying on the first optically active surface or the second optically active surface.