To obtain a gel in a constant shape without causing the volume contraction, crack generation and deformation of the gel by placing the washed gel and an inactive liquid having a larger specific gravity than that of the gel and not compatible with a solvent, etc., contained in the gel in a vessel for drying the gel on the production of a refractive index distribution type optical element by a sol-gel method.

This method for producing a refractive index distribution type optical element comprises stirring and mixing a metal alkoxide, etc., as a raw material, an alcohol as a solvent, water for hydrolyzing the metal alkoxide, etc., a catalyst for accelerating the hydrolysis reaction, and a specific metal component for imparting a concentration distribution in the following process, pouring the obtained sol into a gelation vessel such as a cylindrical vessel, heating the sol to form the gel, immersing the gel in a distribution-imparting solution for eluting the fine crystals of the added metal component for a constant time to impart the concentration distribution, and subsequently fixing the metal component. The metal alkoxide is selected from tetramethoxysilane, etc., and the alcohol is selected from methanol, ethanol, etc. The catalyst is selected from hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc. The specific metal component is selected from lead acetate, etc.