A light emitting device includes an LED having a light emitting top surface and sidewalls. A phosphor structure is attached to the light emitting surface of the LED. The phosphor structure has a light emitting top surface facing away from the LED light emitting surface, and sidewalls. A light reflective material is arranged to cover the sidewalls of the LED and the phosphor structure. A light absorptive region is defined in the light reflective material around a perimeter of the light emitting surface of the phosphor structure. The light absorptive region may be spaced apart from the perimeter of the phosphor structure by a gap. The light absorptive region may be formed by ultraviolet laser illumination of the light reflecting material.