Optical fiber with compression surface layer

An article comprising a glass dielectric fiber waveguide with a composition profile varying radially from the center to the surface which creates a mechanical stress profile and an index of refraction profile, the composition profile forming a core, an intermediate optical clad layer having an index of refraction lower than the core, and a surface layer which is in compression having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than the core, said surface layer having a predetermined thickness which is less than 10% of the radius of the core, said composition profile including (a) at least one dopant which creates said mechanical stress profile wherein the surface is in compression, the compression being greater than 20,000 psig, and (b) at least another dopant which creates said index of refraction profile.