A method of manufacturing active optical fibers comprising preparing a preform and then drawing a fiber from the preform, wherein the method consists in using a preform having a doped peripheral outer zone, said zone being intended to constitute the outer cladding of the optical fiber, the doping of the peripheral zone giving it a refractive index greater than that of the optical cladding, and giving it a difference in softening temperature relative to that of the core of the optical fiber which is less than the difference that would exist if the outer zone were not doped.