For the conversion of light from edge-emitting laser diodes into symme
tric laser beams two main tasks have to be performed: collimation and
beam shaping. Generally these two jobs are performed separately. Becau
se of the inherently different divergence angles of the emitted light,
collimation with astigmatic lenses generally results in a beam with a
n elliptically shaped amplitude distribution. This asymmetry has to be
compensated for by an anamorphic imaging step to obtain the desired s
pherical beam profile. It can be advantageous to combine both jobs in
one element. We demonstrate the design, the fabrication, and the appli
cation of refractive gradient-index elements, which allow one to perfo
rm both jobs with a single element. Our astigmatic lenses were fabrica
ted by silver-sodium ion exchange in glass.