An optical element covering member includes: at least one optical element;
a support medium supporting the at least one optical element; and a
shrinkable covering member covering the at least one optical element and
the support medium. In the optical element covering member, among sides
forming primary surfaces of the support medium, at least one set of sides
facing each other is covered with the covering member, and the following
equation (1) is satisfied under conditions at a temperature of 70.degree.
C., 0.ltoreq.F.ltoreq.1.65.times.10.sup.4.times.t/L (1) where t
indicates the thickness of the support medium, L indicates the length of
the side of the support medium covered with the covering member, F
indicates a tensile force of the covering member, which acts in a
direction parallel to the side having the length L.