An analysis using FEM simulation was conducted to predict residual stresses and birefringence in simple compressed cylindrical glass as a preliminary part of the optimum design determination of optical lenses. The FEM simulation with the Maxwell viscoelastic constitutive model was used to predict thermal induced residual stresses and birefringence during the compression test considering stress relaxation. Also the linear photoelastic theory was introduced to calculate birefringence from the residual stress state. The error of simulation results between experimental results in the birefringence value at the center of glass specimen is $4.2\%$, and the error in the maximum radius of deformed glass specimen is $1.2\%$. The simulation results were in good agreement with deformation and birefringence distribution in the existing experimental result.