An optical element irradiated with a light flux having a wavelength of 350
nm to 450 nm, is provided with a synthetic resin base material; and an
antireflection film provided on the synthetic resin base material and
including a contact layer being in contact with the synthetic resin base
material, wherein the contact layer is a film made of a material
containing no oxygen atom or a film made of a mixed material or a
material containing no oxygen atom and a material containing an oxygen
atom in which the mixed material contains the material containing an
oxygen atom less than 10%.