The present invention provides an optical head for realizing the stable operation by controlling the temperature of the semiconductor laser to a low level by reducing the heat transfer rate from a laser driver IC to a housing in the vicinity of a semiconductor laser, and an optical disc drive using the same. It provides an optical head having a semiconductor laser and a photo detector arranged on one side with respect to a straight line through the center of an object lens of an object lens actuator and in parallel to the axis contacted with bearings, and a laser driver IC arranged on the other side with respect to the straight line. Thereby, the distance from the laser driver IC to the semiconductor laser can sufficiently be ensured so that the heat transfer rate from the laser driver IC to the housing can be reduced.