A head-mounted imaging apparatus having a frame that houses a left-eye imaging apparatus and/or a right-eye imaging apparatus, each imaging apparatus energizable to form a virtual image to an eye of an observer, wherein each imaging apparatus comprises: a projector energizable to emit a set of angularly related beams including a central projected light beam along a projection axis, wherein the projector is supported by a temple member of the frame, and wherein the projector includes lenses or other devices for converting spatial information about an image into the set of angularly related beams for encoding a virtual image; a waveguide having two planar surfaces and configured to receive the central projected light beam through an input aperture and to form an expanded central projected light beam that is output from an output aperture and directed toward the corresponding eye of the observer, wherein the output aperture of the waveguide is spaced apart from the input aperture; and an optical coupler that is configured to receive the central projected light beam from the projector along a first axis that is at an obtuse angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the first axis and a portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide, wherein the optical coupler is further configured to redirect the central projected light beam along a second axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the second axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide, and wherein the central projected light beam is redirected through the output aperture along a third axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the third axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide. a projector energizable to emit a set of angularly related beams including a central projected light beam along a projection axis, wherein the projector is supported by a temple member of the frame, and wherein the projector includes lenses or other devices for converting spatial information about an image into the set of angularly related beams for encoding a virtual image; wherein the projector is supported by a temple member of the frame, and wherein the projector includes lenses or other devices for converting spatial information about an image into the set of angularly related beams for encoding a virtual image; a waveguide having two planar surfaces and configured to receive the central projected light beam through an input aperture and to form an expanded central projected light beam that is output from an output aperture and directed toward the corresponding eye of the observer, wherein the output aperture of the waveguide is spaced apart from the input aperture; and an optical coupler that is configured to receive the central projected light beam from the projector along a first axis that is at an obtuse angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the first axis and a portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide, wherein the optical coupler is further configured to redirect the central projected light beam along a second axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the second axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide, and wherein the central projected light beam is redirected through the output aperture along a third axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the third axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide. wherein the optical coupler is further configured to redirect the central projected light beam along a second axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the second axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide, and wherein the central projected light beam is redirected through the output aperture along a third axis that is at an acute angle with respect to the waveguide surfaces as measured between the third axis and the portion of the waveguide between the input aperture and the output aperture on the observer side of the waveguide.