The invention relates to an optical element (1) for deflecting light emitted by lighting means (100), such as LEDs, arranged in a row, comprising a rear face (R) facing the lighting means; a front face (V) facing away from the lighting means; recesses (30) on the rear face (R), each recess being delimited by longitudinal lateral wall sections, intermediate wall sections, and a base section for receiving a lighting means (one or more LEDs) and/or for providing a light inlet region (L) where light enters the optical element; a first deflection region (UI) on the rear face (R), comprising at least one deflection surface for deflecting light in the direction of a depression (E), in particular a V-shaped depression (E), which is arranged on the front face (V) of the optical element; and a second deflection region (U2), in particular a stepped deflection region, on the rear face (R) for providing a plurality of spaced deflection surfaces for deflecting light in the direction of a light outlet surface (20a, 20b) on the front face (V) of the optical element, wherein light is deflected onto the second deflection region (U2) on the rear face (R) of the optical element by a delimiting surface of the depression (E) arranged on the front face (V) of the optical element. An intermediate wall section of a recess (30) has at least one deflection surface (U1, U2), which acts in particular as a total reflection surface, on the face facing away from the recess in order to deflect the light emitted in the longitudinal direction into the first deflection region (UI) on the rear face (R) of the optical element.