To provide a method for manufacturing an optical element by which even when an optical element whose optical surface by transfer of a forming surface of an upper die is convex is manufactured, occurrence of an air reservoir can be prevented and an optical element having a high-accuracy optical surface can be efficiently manufactured.

Molten glass is pressed between a lower die having a receiving surface for receiving molten glass and an upper die having a concave forming surface for pressing molten glass in cooperation with the lower die. After feeding the molten glass onto the lower die, the molten glass is deformed by an upper die for deformation having a concave surface whose central part has a smaller radius of curvature than a central part of the forming surface of the upper die, a central part of the upper surface of the deformed molten glass is brought into contact with the forming surface of the upper die in first, and the molten glass is pressed.