The optimization of optical systems is a very old problem. As soon as lens designers discovered the possibility of designing optical systems, the desire to improve those systems by the means of optimization began. For a long time the optimization of optical systems was connected with well-known mathematical theories of optimization which gave good results, but required lens designers to have a strong knowledge about optimized optical systems. In recent years modern optimization methods have been developed that are not primarily based on the known mathematical theories of optimization, but...