The invention relates to a method for enhancing an optical image. The method comprises the following steps of: 1, inputting an image acquired in photoelectric navigation; 2, performing point-by-point scanning on the image, and acquiring a pixel value, namely pixel (a, b) of the current pixel point; 3, acquiring pixel values of adjacent pixel points at the top left corner, the bottom left corner, the top right corner and the bottom right corner of the current pixel point respectively; 4, solving relative difference values, namely difpix of the current pixel point and (2<n> + 2<m>) adjacent pixel points obtained in the step 3; 5, solving an absolute value of the relative difference value, namely the absolute value of difpix, comparing the absolute value with a set threshold, namely TH4, setting the pixel value of the current pixel point with a coordinate value of a (a, b) point to be the absolute value of difpix multiplying by M when the absolute value is larger than the threshold, namely the TH4, and setting the pixel value of the current pixel point with the coordinate value of the (a, b) point to be 0 when the absolute value is smaller than the threshold, namely the TH4; and 6, after performing the point-by-point scanning on the image, acquiring an enhanced contrast image. The method is easy to operate, good in enhancement effect and suitable for circuit realization, and enhancement efficiency is improved.