Method for manufacturing an optical microlens arrays (20, 20', 20", 20'''), wherein the method comprises: providing a substrate having a first side and an opposite second side, applying a photoresist to the first side of the substrate at least in portions, wherein, before applying the photoresist on the first side of the substrate, three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f) comprising a height between 50nm and 5 μm and protruding over the respective substrate surface of the first side of the substrate are provided, and wherein these protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f) are provided at predetermined locations (15a - 15f) where the one optical microlens (16a - 16f) each is to be later arranged, wherein the step of applying the photoresist (13, 13') includes applying the photoresist (13, 13') to the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), structuring the photoresist such that the structured photoresist (13a - 13e) remains at the predetermined locations (15a - 15e) on the first side of the substrate where one optical microlens (16a - 16e) each is to be later arranged, applying a hydrophobic coating (14, 14') to the first side of the substrate, wherein the step of applying the hydrophobic coating includes applying the hydrophobic coating to the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), and subsequently removing the structured photoresist (13a - 13e) including the hydrophobic coating located thereon from the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), and arranging one microlens (16a - 16e) each on the spots of the first side of the substrate that are freed from the structured photoresist (13a - 13e). providing a substrate having a first side and an opposite second side, applying a photoresist to the first side of the substrate at least in portions, wherein, before applying the photoresist on the first side of the substrate, three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f) comprising a height between 50nm and 5 μm and protruding over the respective substrate surface of the first side of the substrate are provided, and wherein these protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f) are provided at predetermined locations (15a - 15f) where the one optical microlens (16a - 16f) each is to be later arranged, wherein the step of applying the photoresist (13, 13') includes applying the photoresist (13, 13') to the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), structuring the photoresist such that the structured photoresist (13a - 13e) remains at the predetermined locations (15a - 15e) on the first side of the substrate where one optical microlens (16a - 16e) each is to be later arranged, applying a hydrophobic coating (14, 14') to the first side of the substrate, wherein the step of applying the hydrophobic coating includes applying the hydrophobic coating to the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), and subsequently removing the structured photoresist (13a - 13e) including the hydrophobic coating located thereon from the protruding three-dimensional elevations (71a - 71f), and arranging one microlens (16a - 16e) each on the spots of the first side of the substrate that are freed from the structured photoresist (13a - 13e).