An optical apparatus uses a variable-optical-characteristic optical element whereby focusing, zooming or the like can be effected without moving a lens or the like and the whole optical apparatus can be arranged in a lightweight structure. The user wears a power transmitting unit 303 by hanging it from his/her neck, for example. The power transmitting unit 303 may be put in a clothes pocket or the like. The power transmitting unit 303 may be placed somewhere around the user. In the power transmitting unit 303, a transmitting circuit 305 is driven by a power supply 304 to send an electromagnetic wave from a transmitting antenna 306 toward variable-focus eyeglasses 302. The variable-focus eyeglasses 302 have a receiving antenna 307 provided on eyeglass frames 308 to receive the electromagnetic wave sent from the power transmitting unit 303. The received electromagnetic wave is, for example, boosted in voltage and rectified to drive the variable-focus lenses.