The present invention relates to fluorescent glass which is easily put into practical use, and optical elements including the same. In one aspect, the fluorescent glass is comprised of silica-based glass containing Bi as a dopant, and adapted to generate fluorescence in response to pumping light in a wavelength band of 980 nm incident thereon. In another aspect, the fluorescent glass contains at least one species of transition metal as a dopant, and exhibits a 980-nm band absorption spectrum having a full width at half maximum exceeding 10 nm. In still another aspect, the fluorescent glass is comprised of silica-based glass containing at least one species of transition element as a dopant, and exhibits a fluorescence spectrum with a peak intensity fluctuating within a range of −1 dB or more but 1 dB or less with respect to pumping light having a fixed intensity in a state set to a temperature of −5° C. or more but 65° C. or less.