An optical element for reducing divergence and for changing the direction of light, comprising: a light entry face for injecting light having a primary emission characteristic, and a light exit face for emitting the injected light with a secondary emission characteristic; wherein the secondary emission characteristic has an emission angle (β) which is smaller than the emission angle of the primary emission characteristic, in order to reduce the divergence of the light; and wherein the optical axis of the light exit face extends obliquely relative to the optical axis of the light entry face, in order to change the direction of the light; and wherein the optical element comprises a multitude of light guiding elements each one forming part of the light entry face and part of the light exit face, and each having a core and a cladding and comprising a respective boundary surface extending between the light entry face and the light exit face for reflection, in particular total internal reflection of the injected light at this boundary surface; and wherein the light guiding elements each have a cross-sectional area at the light exit face, which is larger than the cross-sectional area at the light entry face, in particular such that the light exit face is larger than the light entry face; and wherein the optical element has a curved section within which the optical axis of the optical element extends along a curve; characterised in that the ratio of the radius of curvature or of the equivalent radius of curvature of the curved section and the diameter of the core of the light guiding elements is at least 10, at least in the curved section. a light entry face for injecting light having a primary emission characteristic, and a light exit face for emitting the injected light with a secondary emission characteristic; wherein the secondary emission characteristic has an emission angle (β) which is smaller than the emission angle of the primary emission characteristic, in order to reduce the divergence of the light; and wherein the optical axis of the light exit face extends obliquely relative to the optical axis of the light entry face, in order to change the direction of the light; and wherein the optical element comprises a multitude of light guiding elements each one forming part of the light entry face and part of the light exit face, and each having a core and a cladding and comprising a respective boundary surface extending between the light entry face and the light exit face for reflection, in particular total internal reflection of the injected light at this boundary surface; and wherein the light guiding elements each have a cross-sectional area at the light exit face, which is larger than the cross-sectional area at the light entry face, in particular such that the light exit face is larger than the light entry face; and wherein the optical element has a curved section within which the optical axis of the optical element extends along a curve; characterised in that the ratio of the radius of curvature or of the equivalent radius of curvature of the curved section and the diameter of the core of the light guiding elements is at least 10, at least in the curved section.