The dependence of the optic properties of niobium-phosphate glasses containing alkali metal oxides on their composition and structural features is investigated. Along with the increase of the niobium oxide content, a shift of the optic absorption boundary to the long-wavelength range and a substantial increase of the refraction index (from 1.50 to 1.73) are observed. The increase of the alkali metal mass results in the decrease of the refraction index and a shift to the short-wavelength range. The correlation between the length of polyphosphate groups and the type of alkali oxide is registered: the chain length increases from lithium to potassium.