MOLDING DEVICE AND MOLDING METHOD FOR OPTICAL ELEMENT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a molding device and a molding method for an optical element which can change and adjust load pressure depending on the position of the optical element to manufacture an optical element which has a stable surface shape while using conventional devices for a cylinder and the like in manufacturing an optical element.SOLUTION: A molding device 1 for an optical element includes: a molding die 2 composed of an upper die, a lower die and a torso, in which an optical material 50 can be put; and a pair of molding plates 3, 4 and 5 which can mold an optical element shape by press molding of the optical material 50 via the molding die 2. The upper die is composed of: a core member having a molding surface which forms a central part of the optical element; and an outer peripheral member having a molding surface which forms an outer peripheral part of the optical element, and a pressure adjusting member 7 is provided which can independently operate the core member and the outer peripheral member in cooling of press molding to adjust a pressure applied on the central part and the outer peripheral part of the optical element.