A pancake lens block, comprising: an optical element configured to transmit at least a portion of radiation from a radiation source; wherein the optical element comprises: a first retarder oriented to a first axis of orientation, where the first retarder is configured to selectively transmit a portion of the radiation from the radiation source; a partial reflector that receives the portion of radiation from the first retarder and transmits the portion of radiation; a second retarder oriented to a second axis of orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis of orientation, where the second retarder is configured to transmit the portion of radiation from the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer configured to reflect the portion of radiation transmitted by the second retarder back to the partial reflector through the second retarder and the partial reflector reflects a second portion of the radiation from the second retarder back to the reflective polarizer, characterized in that: the pancake lens block further comprises an azimuthal compensator coupled to a surface of the optical element; wherein the azimuthal compensator is coupled to a surface of the partial reflector and is coupled to a surface of the second retarder, and the azimuthal compensator is configured to reduce an optical effect of stress birefringence in at least one of the partial reflector or the second retarder. an optical element configured to transmit at least a portion of radiation from a radiation source; wherein the optical element comprises: a first retarder oriented to a first axis of orientation, where the first retarder is configured to selectively transmit a portion of the radiation from the radiation source; a partial reflector that receives the portion of radiation from the first retarder and transmits the portion of radiation; a second retarder oriented to a second axis of orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis of orientation, where the second retarder is configured to transmit the portion of radiation from the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer configured to reflect the portion of radiation transmitted by the second retarder back to the partial reflector through the second retarder and the partial reflector reflects a second portion of the radiation from the second retarder back to the reflective polarizer, characterized in that: the pancake lens block further comprises an azimuthal compensator coupled to a surface of the optical element; wherein the azimuthal compensator is coupled to a surface of the partial reflector and is coupled to a surface of the second retarder, and the azimuthal compensator is configured to reduce an optical effect of stress birefringence in at least one of the partial reflector or the second retarder. a first retarder oriented to a first axis of orientation, where the first retarder is configured to selectively transmit a portion of the radiation from the radiation source; a partial reflector that receives the portion of radiation from the first retarder and transmits the portion of radiation; a second retarder oriented to a second axis of orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis of orientation, where the second retarder is configured to transmit the portion of radiation from the partial reflector; and a reflective polarizer configured to reflect the portion of radiation transmitted by the second retarder back to the partial reflector through the second retarder and the partial reflector reflects a second portion of the radiation from the second retarder back to the reflective polarizer, characterized in that: the pancake lens block further comprises an azimuthal compensator coupled to a surface of the optical element; wherein the azimuthal compensator is coupled to a surface of the partial reflector and is coupled to a surface of the second retarder, and the azimuthal compensator is configured to reduce an optical effect of stress birefringence in at least one of the partial reflector or the second retarder. the pancake lens block further comprises an azimuthal compensator coupled to a surface of the optical element; wherein the azimuthal compensator is coupled to a surface of the partial reflector and is coupled to a surface of the second retarder, and the azimuthal compensator is configured to reduce an optical effect of stress birefringence in at least one of the partial reflector or the second retarder.