Process deciding method in method of manufacturing optical element, method of manufacturing optical element, and optical element

A process deciding method in a method of manufacturing an optical element by heating and press-molding an optical material to mold the optical element using a molding die on which a release film is formed, comprising:

• a basicity degree identifying process in which a degree of basicity of the optical material is identified;
• and
• a removing process determining process of determining whether to perform one or both of a first removing process in which any of oxygen, ozone, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and a manganese oxide is removed and a second removing process in which any of carbon, a carbon compound, aluminum, and an alkali metal is removed from at least one of a surface of the optical material and a surface of the release film by comparing the degree of basicity of the optical material identified in the basicity degree identifying process with a predetermined reference value, before press-molding the optical material.

A method of manufacturing an optical element by molding an optical material whose degree of basicity is equal to or less than 0.53 using a molding die on which a release film is formed, comprising:

• a removing process in which a basic substance is removed from at least one of a surface of the optical material and a surface of the release film;
• and
• a molding process in which the optical material is arranged on the molding die and is heated and press-molded.

A method of manufacturing an optical element by molding an optical material whose degree of basicity is equal to or more than 0.53 using a molding die on which a release film is formed, comprising:

• a removing process in which an oxidizing substance is removed from at least one of a surface of the optical material and a surface of the release film;
• and
• a molding process in which the optical material is arranged on the molding die to be heated and press-molded.