In methods of manufacturing optical components for infrared-light or ultraviolet-light applications, by lessening the expense consumed during finishing processes, a technique for manufacturing ceramic optical components inexpensively is realized. Raw material powders whose main constituent is ZnS, ZnSe or Ge, for ceramics for infrared-light optical components, and whose main constituent is CaF2 or MaF2, for ceramics for ultraviolet-light optical components, are molded into molded masses; the molded masses are sintered into sinters; and by pressing the sinters through a heating and compressing process, net-shape ceramic sinters can be produced. Alternatively, a finishing process is carried out after they are pressed into near-net shape. By shaping into net shape or near-net shape, the finishing process can be omitted, or the finishing process time and processing expense taken up can be decreased.