In a device and method for the optical transmission of data using a pulse-width-modulated LED (2), a startup phase ascertainment unit (3) for ascertaining at least one startup phase of the LED (2) as a function of a sequence of detected switching states of the LED (2) and a modulation unit (4) for modulating the data to a light signal emitted by the LED (2) during the ascertained startup phase of the LED (2) are provided, and data packets are first deleted from the data packet queue or queues after they have been successfully transmitted.