Abstract: Diffractive optical imaging elements have been proposed in numerous papers over the past decade. Few have been produced in quantities. The primary method of fabricating such diffractive elements has been reactive ion etching of a multi-level surface relief grating on one side of a lens. This approximation is known as Binary Optics. Recent experiments have shown that single point diamond turning can be very effective in generating continuous diffraction phase profiles. Combined with the long established method of aspherizing, this machining process is especially suitable for applications in the infrared spectrum. It provides a means of reducing the number of lens elements otherwise required for an objective to correct existing aberrations.