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 . <EOS>