An optical arrangement includes a multiplicity of optical elements and a carrier structure which carries the optical elements. The carrier structure is composed of at least two releasably interconnected modules. Each module is composed of at least one carrier structure subelement. A subhousing is produced by a multiplicity of carrier structure subelements and/or modules. The subhousing has a geometry that varies, at least in regions, in correspondence to a usable beam path in the projection exposure apparatus, the usable beam path being defined as an envelope of all light bundles which can propagate from all field points in a field plane to an image plane of the projection exposure apparatus. A projection exposure apparatus for EUV lithography includes such an optical arrangement.