Planar optical waveguides fabricated by K$ sp+$-Na$ sp+$ ion-exchange in soda-lime glass substrates are investigated. / Experimental characterizations of planar waveguide with respect to a wide range of fabrication conditions have been carried out, including detailed measurements of the refractive index anisotropy resulting from the large induced surface stresses. / Parallel to this, the non-linear diffusion process of ion-exchange was simulated numerically to provide, along with the results of the characterizations, a complete description of the refractive index profile from any set of fabrication conditions. / The magnitude of the maximum surface index change observed was shown theoretically to be almost entirely due to the induced stress at the surface of the substrate, arising from the presence of the larger potassium ions. / Finally, a novel class of single-mode channel waveguides, made by a "two-step" ion-exchange was analyzed. A simple model for these waveguides was developed and used in the design of two directional coupler structures which were fabricated and measured. / The two-step process was conceived because it relaxes waveguides' dimensional control, yielding single-mode guides of larger size, better suited for low-loss connections to optical fibers. It also provides an additional degree of freedom to adjust device properties.

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