In order to provide light guides, in particular in the form of glass rod portions, with improved end faces, the invention provides a method for examining glass rods, in particular light guides, in which the glass rods are arranged in front of two cameras, the cameras recording the end faces from the sides, in two different radial viewing directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the glass rods, and the planarity and angularity of the contour of the end faces being optically and contactlessly determined with both cameras on the basis of the recordings, and a glass rod automatically being rejected and/or sorted by means of a rejecting/sorting device if there is any deviation of the planarity or angularity of the end faces of the glass rod from a respectively prescribed set range.