A liquid crystal lens device (211, 212, 221, 231, 232), comprising: a liquid crystal optical unit (111, 112, 121, 131, 132, 141) including a first substrate unit including a first substrate having a first major surface, a plurality of first electrodes, each of the first electrodes being provided on the first major surface to extend in a first direction and being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of second electrodes, each of the second electrodes being provided on the first major surface between the first electrodes to extend in the first direction and being separated from the first electrode in said second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second substrate unit including a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and a first opposing electrode provided on the second major surface, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit; and a drive unit configured to control a voltage between the first electrode and the first opposing electrode and a voltage between the second electrode and the first opposing electrode, characterised in that the drive unit is configured to change the voltage between the second electrode and the first opposing electrode from a third voltage to a fourth voltage after changing the voltage between the first electrode and the first opposing electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, the absolute value of the second voltage being greater than the absolute value of the first voltage, the absolute value of the fourth voltage being greater than the absolute value of the third voltage. a liquid crystal optical unit (111, 112, 121, 131, 132, 141) including a first substrate unit including a first substrate having a first major surface, a plurality of first electrodes, each of the first electrodes being provided on the first major surface to extend in a first direction and being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of second electrodes, each of the second electrodes being provided on the first major surface between the first electrodes to extend in the first direction and being separated from the first electrode in said second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second substrate unit including a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and a first opposing electrode provided on the second major surface, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit; and a first substrate unit including a first substrate having a first major surface, a plurality of first electrodes, each of the first electrodes being provided on the first major surface to extend in a first direction and being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of second electrodes, each of the second electrodes being provided on the first major surface between the first electrodes to extend in the first direction and being separated from the first electrode in said second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first substrate having a first major surface, a plurality of first electrodes, each of the first electrodes being provided on the first major surface to extend in a first direction and being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of second electrodes, each of the second electrodes being provided on the first major surface between the first electrodes to extend in the first direction and being separated from the first electrode in said second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second substrate unit including a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and a first opposing electrode provided on the second major surface, and a second substrate having a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and a first opposing electrode provided on the second major surface, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit; and a drive unit configured to control a voltage between the first electrode and the first opposing electrode and a voltage between the second electrode and the first opposing electrode, characterised in that the drive unit is configured to change the voltage between the second electrode and the first opposing electrode from a third voltage to a fourth voltage after changing the voltage between the first electrode and the first opposing electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage, the absolute value of the second voltage being greater than the absolute value of the first voltage, the absolute value of the fourth voltage being greater than the absolute value of the third voltage.