LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL ELEMENT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal optical element which is capable of preventing the disturbance in alignment by external force and makes it possible to obtain excellent image quality. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal layer 15 of the liquid optical element 1 having liquid crystal cells 10 holding a liquid crystal layer 15 between a pair of substrates 11, 12 with electrodes is internally provided with non-liquid crystalline high-polymer parts 16 connecting a pair of the substrates 11, 12 in an island shape to provide the high-polymer parts 16 with light shieldability. As a result, the light scattering at the boundaries of the high-polymer parts 16 and the liquid crystals 15 may be suppressed and the transmitted light quantity of the high-polymer parts 16 may be decreased and, therefore, the image quality may be improved. The distance between the substrates 11, 12 may be maintained constant by the high-polymer parts 16 and the relative positions thereof may be fixed and, therefore, the disturbance in the alignment by the external force may be prevented.