diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 21e9e8ae7..ebec466ca 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 ### Enhancements and minor changes
 - Added `pynwb.read_nwb` convenience method to simplify reading an NWBFile written with any backend @h-mayorquin [#1994](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1994)
+
+### Bug fixes
+- Made distance, orientation, and field_of_view optional in OpticalSeries to match schema @bendichter [#2023](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/2023)
 - Added support for NWB schema 2.8.0. @rly [#2001](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/2001)
   - Removed `SpatialSeries.bounds` field that was not functional. This will be fixed in a future release. @rly [#1907](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1907), [#1996](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1996)
   - Added support for `NWBFile.was_generated_by` field. @stephprince [#1924](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1924)
diff --git a/src/pynwb/image.py b/src/pynwb/image.py
index c775297d7..4dc3ab6e0 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/image.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/image.py
@@ -325,12 +325,26 @@ class OpticalSeries(ImageSeries):
                      'orientation')
 
     @docval(*get_docval(ImageSeries.__init__, 'name'),  # required
-            {'name': 'distance', 'type': float, 'doc': 'Distance from camera/monitor to target/eye.'},  # required
-            {'name': 'field_of_view', 'type': ('array_data', 'data', 'TimeSeries'), 'shape': ((2, ), (3, )),  # required
-             'doc': 'Width, height and depth of image, or imaged area (meters).'},
-            {'name': 'orientation', 'type': str,  # required
-             'doc': 'Description of image relative to some reference frame (e.g., which way is up). '
-                    'Must also specify frame of reference.'},
+            {
+                "name": "distance",
+                "type": float,
+                "doc": "Distance from camera/monitor to target/eye.",
+                "default": None,
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "field_of_view",
+                "type": ("array_data", "data", "TimeSeries"),
+                "shape": ((2,), (3,)),
+                "doc": "Width, height and depth of image, or imaged area (meters).",
+                "default": None,
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "orientation",
+                "type": str,
+                "doc": "Description of image relative to some reference frame (e.g., which way is up). "
+                "Must also specify frame of reference.",
+                "default": None,
+            },
             {'name': 'data', 'type': ('array_data', 'data'), 'shape': ([None] * 3, [None, None, None, 3]),
              'doc': ('Images presented to subject, either grayscale or RGB. May be 3D or 4D. The first dimension must '
                      'be time (frame). The second and third dimensions represent x and y. The optional fourth '
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_image.py b/tests/unit/test_image.py
index 92637d82e..34f65ad9e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_image.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_image.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from pynwb import TimeSeries
+from pynwb import TimeSeries, NWBHDF5IO
 from pynwb.base import Image, Images, ImageReferences
 from pynwb.device import Device
 from pynwb.image import (
@@ -396,6 +396,54 @@ def test_init(self):
         self.assertEqual(ts.format, 'external')
 
 
+    def test_init_all_optional_fields_none(self):
+        """Test that OpticalSeries can be created with all optional fields set to None."""
+        ts = OpticalSeries(
+            name="test_ts",
+            unit="unit",
+            external_file=["external_file"],
+            starting_frame=[0],
+            format="external",
+            timestamps=[1.0, 2.0],
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(ts.distance)
+        self.assertIsNone(ts.field_of_view)
+        self.assertIsNone(ts.orientation)
+
+    def test_roundtrip_optional_fields(self):
+        """Test that OpticalSeries with optional fields set to None can be written to and read from file."""
+        from datetime import datetime
+        import tempfile
+        from pynwb import NWBFile
+        
+        nwbfile = NWBFile(
+            session_description='test session',
+            identifier='TEST123',
+            session_start_time=datetime.now().astimezone()
+        )
+        
+        # Create OpticalSeries without providing the optional fields
+        ts = OpticalSeries(
+            name="test_ts",
+            unit="unit",
+            external_file=["external_file"],
+            starting_frame=[0],
+            format="external",
+            timestamps=[1.0, 2.0]
+        )
+        
+        nwbfile.add_acquisition(ts)
+        
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.nwb') as temp:
+            with NWBHDF5IO(temp.name, mode='w') as io:
+                io.write(nwbfile)
+            with NWBHDF5IO(temp.name, mode='r', load_namespaces=True) as io:
+                nwbfile_read = io.read()
+                ts_read = nwbfile_read.acquisition['test_ts']
+                self.assertIsNone(ts_read.distance)
+                self.assertIsNone(ts_read.field_of_view)
+                self.assertIsNone(ts_read.orientation)
+
 class TestImageSubtypes(TestCase):
 
     def test_grayscale_image(self):