The cyanine dyes of the invention are well soluble in solvents having a high evaporation rate and stable against light, and thus effective for improving productivity and realizing optical recording media, especially CD-R and DVD-R optical discs, having improved light resistance.The optical recording medium of the invention uses a photo-stabilized cyanine dye which is obtained as a counter ion bonded compound between an anion of the formula (1) and a cation of the formula (2): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.01 and R.sub.02 each are ##STR2## wherein each of R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or phenyl group, ##STR3## wherein m is equal to 3, 4, 5 or 6, ##STR4## or phenyl groups; M is a transition metal; each of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 is a fused benzene ring or fused naphthalene ring; each of R.sub.21 and R.sub.22 is an alkyl group; and n is equal to 0, 1 or 2.