A device serves the purpose of changing the stress-induced birefringence and/or the thickness (d and D, respectively) of an optical component by elastic deformation caused by means of stress. The optical component is gripped on a circumference, arranged at least approximately perpendicular to the optical axis, at least approximately entirely by at least one clamping element. The at least one clamping element can be actuated by at least one actuator. In the case of a method for this purpose, compressive stress is applied to the optical component, the elastic deformation being varied via a variation in the compressive stress.