Today, IO-CSIC is a dynamic institution with highly internationally recognized members and research and its technology outputs contribute significantly to the CSIC mission of creating an impact in science and society. Current research topics include visual optics, biophotonics, image science, optical radiation measurements, nonlinear dynamics, fiber optics, nanophotonics, photonics with high energy ions, nanostructure photonics and ultrafast science.

The Institute of Optics “Daza de Valdés” was founded in 1946 by Prof. José Otero, who was in charge since 1939 of the “Optical Section” at the Institute of Physics Alonso de Santa Cruz (part of the Rockefeller Institute). The Institute moved in 1950 to a new building, a work of architect Fisac. The Institute of Optics was created around two major areas: Vision and Spectroscopy, both with active and highly internationally recognized researchers, with these areas expanding into Physiological Optics, Ocular exploration, Design of optical Systems, Photography, Infrared Spectroscopy and Physical Optics, and later incorporating Electron Microscopy, Atomic Spectra, Luminescent materials, Photometry and Colorimetry. In 1956 the Institute was re-assigned to the “Juan de la Cierva” Board of Trustees, organism of the CSIC aiming at technical research.

In the following years, The Institute of Optics, one of the oldest at CSIC, continued promoting high standards of research in optics (with frequent prestigious international visiting professors, publications in the most important international journals in optics and worldwide collaborations as early as in the 40’s and 50’s), training (the 1st School of Optics and Optometry was founded at the Institute of Optics in 1956), research-based industry (the Empresa Nacional de Optica was launched at the Institute of Optics in the 50’s) and promotion of optics in the Society (the Spanish Optical Society -and its journal "Optica Pura y Aplicada" were founded in the 60's).

IO continued playing a relevant role in shaping the national research and academia in Optics during the 60's to 80's, with most Chairs in Optics in Spanish Universities having trained at or linked to the Institute of Optics (CSIC). During this period the IO collaborated with several International Commissions, such as the International Bureau of Weights and Measures of which the Institute's founder was its President in the period 1968-1975. In 1977 the CSIC was re-organized and the “Juan de la Cierva” Board of Trustees disappeared. The IO was re-structured in 7 research Units: Images & Vision, Radiometry & Colorimetry, Physical Optics, Atomic Spectra & Quantum Optics, Molecular Spectra, Optical Properties of Solids and Solar Energy.

Today, the IO is a rejuvenated and dynamic institute, with highly internationally recognized members and research and technology outputs that contribute significantly to the CSIC mission of creating an impact in science and society. Current research topics include visual optics, biophotonics, image science, optical metrology, nonlinear dynamics, fiber optics, nanophotonics, plasmonics, photonics with high energy ions, nanostructure photonics and ultrafast science.