To provide a polishing method for optical member capable of performing polishing with abrasive grains maintaining constant polishing capability and attaining a highly precise and good polished surface.

In this polishing method for optical member which polishes an optical member W by scanning a rotating polisher 4 while pressing it against the worked surface Wa of the optical member W, the peripheral speed of the polisher 4 is set so as to be higher than that of the optical member W at any contact position where the optical member W and the polisher 4 are brought into contact with each other for polishing.