A liquid crystal optical device includes: a first substrate having transparent plural strip electrodes formed to make groups in respective given areas; a second substrate having a transparent common electrode; and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which a retardation distribution is controlled in respective given areas according to voltages to be applied between the common electrode and the strip electrodes, wherein wall spacers are provided at portions corresponding to boundaries of given areas between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a shield electrode to which a fixed value voltage is applied is provided on at least one of two wall surfaces of each spacer.