Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for optimizing performance of an optical module. The optical module includes: an optical receiver, configured to receive an optical signal from an optical network, convert the optical signal into a first electrical signal, and process the first electrical signal according to a set control parameter for performance optimization, so as to obtain a second electrical signal; a connector, configured to send the second electrical signal obtained by the optical receiver to a host connected to the optical module, so that the host obtains bit error information according to the second electrical signal, and configured to receive the bit error information delivered by the host; and a processor, configured to adjust, according to the bit error information of the connector, the control parameter for performance optimization of the optical receiver.