Discusses the topological charge of an optical vortex is equal to the number of screw dislocations or the number of phase singularities in the beam cross-section Presents a single approach based on the M. Berry formula Describes the topological competition between different optical vortices in a superposition Demonstrates the stability of the topological charge to random phase distortions and insensitivity to amplitude distortions Contains many numerical examples, which clearly show how the phase of optical vortices changes during propagation in free space and the topological charge is preserved