Optical connector

An optical connector comprising:

• a first engaging member holding at least one first optical fiber to guide light from a light source;
• a second engaging member holding a second optical fiber to be optically connected to the first optical fiber, and configured to be engaged with the first engaging member;
• and
• a light shield member provided in a vicinity of an emission end of the first optical fiber of the first engaging member, at such a position as to shield radiation light emitted from the first optical fiber toward an outside at a time of disengagement of the first and second engaging members, the light shield member being pushed by the second engaging member at a time of engagement of the first and second engaging members, so as to be folded and evacuated in a gap provided in advance from an optical path of the radiation light,
• the light shield member including a light absorption member configured to receive and absorb the radiation light and to generate heat, a thermal diffusion member configured to diffuse and radiate the heat generated by the light absorption member, and a base supporting the light absorption member and the thermal diffusion member.