An optical element includes: a substrate; a surface-emitting type semiconductor laser that is provided on the substrate and emits laser light in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the substrate; a rectification element that is provided on the substrate and connected in parallel with the surface-emitting type semiconductor laser, the rectification element having a rectification action with respect to a reverse bias voltage applied to the surface-emitting type semiconductor laser; a first insulation layer that covers a side surface and a portion of an upper surface of a first columnar section including at least a portion of the surface-emitting type semiconductor laser; and a second insulation layer that covers a side surface and an upper surface of a second columnar section along an entire circumference thereof, the second columnar section including at least a portion of the rectification element.