A light emitting device includes a substrate including a doped compound semiconductor layer, a mesa structure located on the doped compound semiconductor layer and containing a first-conductivity-type compound semiconductor layer, an active layer stack configured to emit light at a peak wavelength, a second-conductivity-type compound semiconductor layer, and a transparent conductive oxide layer, and a dielectric material layer laterally surrounding the mesa structure and including an upper portion that overlies a peripheral region of the mesa structure and extending above the transparent conductive oxide layer, wherein an opening in the upper portion of the dielectric material layer is located over a center region of the mesa structure.