An optical component comprises a transparent network of cells juxtaposed and separated by walls parallel to a surface of the component, each cell being hermetically sealed and comprising at least one substance with an optical property, and all or part of the surface of said component comprises walls less than 100 nm thick. The optical component is thus pixelized by a cell network, the cells being separated by walls which may themselves be pixelized. Such an optical component is particularly useful for making optical elements such as ophthalmic lenses.