While reproducing information on an optical disc, an optical disc apparatus varies a focus balance value in both positive and negative directions from a currently set value thereof by ±a which will not affect reproduction operation, measures jitter levels c and d of a reproduced signal when the focus balance value is varied in the positive and negative directions, and calculates a difference e=c−d between the measured jitter levels. If this difference e exceeds a threshold value f, the optical disc apparatus varies the focus balance value by a specified amount g in a direction in which the difference e approaches 0, thereby updating the current focus balance value.