An optical element (101, 102, 103, 104) comprising: a first substrate that is optically transmissive; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the first substrate, the surface facing the second substrate, the first electrode being a light-transmitting electrode; a second electrode disposed on a surface of the second substrate, the surface facing the first substrate, the second electrode partially including insulating areas wherein the second electrode includes an electrically conductive layer disposed on the surface of the second substrate, and insulating members selectively disposed on a surface of the electrically conductive layer and forming the insulating areas, or wherein the second electrode includes an electrically conductive layer having holes (15, 16) that form the insulating areas; a seal frame member located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the seal frame member having a frame shape when viewed in a direction normal to the first substrate and the second substrate; an electrolyte layer that fills a space defined by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the seal frame member, and that comprises an electrodeposition material containing Ag and a mediator, an optical state of the electrolyte layer being capable of changing due to an electrochemical reaction on a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode; a first connection electrode disposed outside the seal frame member on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, the first connection electrode being connected to the first electrode, the first connection electrode having a lower electrical resistivity than the first electrode; and a second connection electrode disposed outside the seal frame member on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, the second connection electrode being connected to the second electrode, wherein, when viewed in the direction normal to the first substrate and the second substrate, in an area surrounded by the seal frame member, the insulating areas (13, 15, 16) are arranged densely in an area close to the first connection electrode where a current density is relatively high, and are arranged sparsely in an area in the middle of the seal frame member where the current density is relatively low. a first substrate that is optically transmissive; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the first substrate, the surface facing the second substrate, the first electrode being a light-transmitting electrode; a second electrode disposed on a surface of the second substrate, the surface facing the first substrate, the second electrode partially including insulating areas wherein the second electrode includes an electrically conductive layer disposed on the surface of the second substrate, and insulating members selectively disposed on a surface of the electrically conductive layer and forming the insulating areas, or wherein the second electrode includes an electrically conductive layer having holes (15, 16) that form the insulating areas; a seal frame member located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the seal frame member having a frame shape when viewed in a direction normal to the first substrate and the second substrate; an electrolyte layer that fills a space defined by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the seal frame member, and that comprises an electrodeposition material containing Ag and a mediator, an optical state of the electrolyte layer being capable of changing due to an electrochemical reaction on a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode; a first connection electrode disposed outside the seal frame member on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, the first connection electrode being connected to the first electrode, the first connection electrode having a lower electrical resistivity than the first electrode; and a second connection electrode disposed outside the seal frame member on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, the second connection electrode being connected to the second electrode, wherein, when viewed in the direction normal to the first substrate and the second substrate, in an area surrounded by the seal frame member, the insulating areas (13, 15, 16) are arranged densely in an area close to the first connection electrode where a current density is relatively high, and are arranged sparsely in an area in the middle of the seal frame member where the current density is relatively low.