MANUFACTURE OF OPTICAL ELEMENT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of an optical element by which cracks and haze are not generated in an optical element, and also, flows are not generated in the surface of a forming mold. SOLUTION: This manufacturing method comprises: forming, on the surface to be formed of an optical element material, a film which has lower hardness than that of the surface of the forming mold and is removable by at least any one of thermal oxidation or dissolution into a solution; subjecting the optical element material provided with the film to press forming; and thereafter, removing the film by thermal oxidation or dissolution into a solution. Accordingly, cracks and haze can be prevented from being generated in the optical element even when cracks or the like are generated in the surface of the optical element material provided with the film, at the time of subjecting the optical element material to press forming, since the film is removed by thermal oxidation or dissolution into a solution after the press forming. Also, since the hardness of the film is lower than that of the surface of the forming mold, flaws can be inhibited from being generated in the surface of the forming mold.