The present invention provides a photosensitive composition for an optical element that has stable optical properties, i.e. for which the performance of a
phase difference controlling functional layer does not decrease upon heating when manufacturing color filters used in an
image display apparatus such as a
liquid crystal display, and
cracking or the like does not occur upon ITO
sputtering in an
electrode establishing process, an optical element using the photosensitive composition, and a method of manufacturing the optical element. The photosensitive composition of the present invention is a photosensitive composition comprising at least a polymerizable
liquid crystal material, a photopolymerization initiator, a crosslinking agent, and a
solvent, wherein the crosslinking agent is at least one selected from compounds having at least two alkylol groups therein and compounds having at least two alkoxy groups therein. The optical element of the present invention is an optical element having a supporting material, and a
phase difference controlling functional layer that is provided on the supporting material and comprises a polymerizable
liquid crystal material cured having a predetermined liquid
crystal regularity, wherein the
phase difference controlling functional layer is formed using the above photosensitive composition. Moreover, the method of manufacturing an optical element of the present invention is a method of manufacturing an optical element having a supporting material, and a phase difference controlling functional layer that is provided on the supporting material and comprises a polymerizable liquid
crystal material cured having a predetermined liquid
crystal regularity, the method comprising applying the above photosensitive composition onto the supporting material, irradiating with
ultraviolet radiation with the polymerizable liquid crystal material aligned in a liquid crystal state, and then carrying out heating treatment so as to crosslink, whereby the phase difference controlling functional layer is formed.