PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical component having a high refractive index and excellent transparency, workability, heat resistance, coloring resistance and the like. SOLUTION: The optical component includes a thermoplastic resin having a recurring unit represented by general formula (1). In general formula (1), R denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or an aryl, W denotes a linking group selected from -C(=O)O-, -C(=O)-, -OC(=O)-, -OC(=O)O-, -O- and -S-, L denotes -CH 2 -, -O-, -C(=O)-, an arylene, or a linking group formed by combining these, A 1 denotes an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or the like and m and n denote 0 or 1. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT