Patent ID: 8184350

Claim:
An image display apparatus comprising: an image-forming element configured to form an original image; a first optical element configured to reflect a light flux from the image-forming element sequentially by plural reflective surfaces to cause the light flux to emerge from the first optical element; and an optical system configured to introduce the light flux from the first optical element to an exit pupil of the optical system, wherein the optical system includes a diffractive optical element configured to transmit by diffraction the light flux emerging from the first optical element, wherein a ray of the light flux emerging from the first optical element and impinging on the diffractive optical element is transmitted therethrough at an exiting angle different than an incident angle thereof, wherein, in the optical system, a first portion closer to the exit pupil than the diffractive optical element has a negative optical power, and wherein no decentered surface having an optical power is provided in a light path between the diffractive optical element and the exit pupil.