Unlike a mechanical mouse (which uses a ball) or a laser mouse (which uses a laser), an optical mouse uses a reflective LED light in order to track movement, which is why the best mousepads for optical mice offer a surface that’ll achieve maximum responsiveness. Since an optical mouse senses the top of where it’s resting, it’ll work best on a smooth, non-glossy material — but you’ll also want to consider the additional features that make for a convenient, comfortable experience such as support pads for wrist support as well as the size.
