A method for controlling an optical device including a movable section including an optical section that refracts incident video image light in accordance with the angle of incidence of the video image light and outputs the refracted video image light and a holding section that supports the optical section, and an actuator that causes the movable section to swing, the method including applying a drive signal to the actuator to cause the movable section to swing. The drive signal is a trapezoidal wave having a trapezoidal waveform. Each leg section of the trapezoidal wave is formed of a first leg section and a second leg section connected to the first leg section. The inclination of the second leg section respect to the flat section of the trapezoidal wave is smaller than the inclination of the first leg section with respect to the flat section of the trapezoidal wave.