A gallium nitride based light emitting diode comprises both a transparent substrate (101) and a window (109) for exiting light generated by the LED. Useful amounts of light may be utilized at the face of the window (109) or at the face of the transparent substrate (101). An external optical reflector (112) is formed directly on the external face of the LED which is not currently being used to exit useful light. If light from the window (109) is being utilized, a Distributed Bragg Reflector, or DBR, (112) is formed directly on the 'backside' of the substrate. However, if light through the substrate (101) is being utilized, a DBR (112) is formed directly on the light emitting portion of the window (109).