In a method for bevelling an ophthalmic lens, the lens is rotated about its own axis and is also displaced parallel to its axis as a function of its angle of rotation. Simultaneously, the edge of the lens is kept in contact with a grinding wheel. Thus the point of contact of the lens with the grinding wheel is constrained to follow a specific path. The specific path to be followed by the point of contact is an intermediate path selected between two paths resulting from a comparison between a collection of predetermined paths and two reference paths. The reference paths are each obtained from a plotting operation carried out prior to the bevelling operation on the ophthalmic lens using feelers. This method is used in grinding machines such that trimming and bevelling of ophthalmic lenses can be automatically performed.