A method for operating an optical sensor which has a light receptor that receives line-by-line reflected or returned light for a complete picture. At least some of the received pictures are compressed with a picture compression algorithm. To process the picture and more quickly store it in a memory-saving manner, the optoelectronic sensors compress the picture simultaneously with its receipt by the receptor. Optoelectronic sensors for use in this manner can be a code laser or a laser scanner for determining distance or generating separation pictures.