It is disclosed a method of forming an optical article comprising: providing a base lens substrate (10) having opposite first and second optical surfaces, and at least one microlens protruding from the second optical surface, placing the base lens substrate in a mold (90) comprising first (91) and second (92) mold portions such that the first optical surface is disposed on a molding surface of the first mold portion (91), and that a volume is defined between a molding surface of the second mold portion and the second optical surface, filling the volume with a moldable material suitable for forming abrasion resistant coating; and setting the moldable material to form an abrasion-resistant coating (20) over the base lens substrate (10), wherein the abrasion resistant coating encapsulates each microlens (30).