A light emitting device includes an electroluminescent element (1), a housing (2) and current supply device for the electroluminescent element. A micro-optical element (12) is coupled to the housing (2) and arranged such that it influences light emitted by the electroluminescent element (1). The micro-optical element may be made up of micro-optical structures on a surface of an at least partially transparent layer (11) coupled to the housing (2). The micro-optical structures may, for example, be manufactured by directly imprinting them on the at least partially transparent layer (11) coupled to the housing or by casting an at least partially transparent layer (11) including the electroluminescent element to a body of the light emitting device. The diffractive optical features of the micro-optical element (12) are designed according to the position, size and shape of the one or more electroluminescent elements (1), and output light distribution of the one or more electroluminescent elements (1).