An optical fiber having a small increase in loss at a wavelength of approximately 1400 nm involved in a deuterium treatment is provided, and an evaluation method to decide whether an optical fiber is that having such a loss increase, and a fabrication method of an optical fiber having a small increase in such a loss are also provided. An optical fiber according to the present invention comprises a core composed of a silica glass doped with at least germanium and a cladding composed of a silica glass surrounding it. The optical fiber is exposed to an atmosphere containing hydrogen or deuterium to diffuse hydrogen molecules or deuterium molecules in the optical fiber, and after that, the outer periphery of the glass region of the optical fiber is etched to an outer diameter of 50 .mu.m, and then the electron spin density of PORs is 1.times.10.sup.13 spins/g or less when the glass region is measured by the electron-spin resonance method.