A method for production of an optical element includes preparing a first member having formed on the surface of a first substrate 101 a first layer 103 by at least one of epitaxial growth and pore-making (micropore-making) and a second member having a porous layer for layer separation formed on a second substrate 104 and having formed thereon a second layer by at least one of epitaxial growth and pore-making (micropore-making), bonding the first layer 103 and the second layer, separating the second substrate 104 and the second layer of the second member from each other at the porous layer for layer separation in the second member, to form a laminated structure on the first substrate 101, forming a refraction index distribution pattern produced by a difference in refraction index in the plane of at least one of the first layer 103 and the second layer.