A variable optical attenuator configured to receive light rays from an illumination source along a light path, comprising: a first tunable lens having an optical axis and located along the light path to receive light rays having an initial state as an input from the illumination source, and comprising at least one configurable optical surface for controlling optical power of the first tunable lens, in which light rays in the initial state are collimated light rays; an aperture structure having an aperture that is co-axially aligned with the optical axis of the first tunable lens, the aperture structure positioned along the light path to receive light rays exiting from the first tunable lens; and a second tunable lens having an optical axis that is co-axially aligned with the aperture and the optical axis of the first tunable lens, the second tunable lens positioned along the light path to receive light rays passed through the aperture, and comprising at least one configurable optical surface for controlling optical power of the second tunable lens, wherein the first tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the first tunable lens i) to be at least partially blocked by the aperture structure, and at least partially passed by the aperture to the second tunable lens, or ii) to be fully passed through the aperture to the second tunable lens, and wherein the second tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the second tunable lens to have substantially the same initial state as the light rays that are input to the first tunable lens. a first tunable lens having an optical axis and located along the light path to receive light rays having an initial state as an input from the illumination source, and comprising at least one configurable optical surface for controlling optical power of the first tunable lens, in which light rays in the initial state are collimated light rays; an aperture structure having an aperture that is co-axially aligned with the optical axis of the first tunable lens, the aperture structure positioned along the light path to receive light rays exiting from the first tunable lens; and a second tunable lens having an optical axis that is co-axially aligned with the aperture and the optical axis of the first tunable lens, the second tunable lens positioned along the light path to receive light rays passed through the aperture, and comprising at least one configurable optical surface for controlling optical power of the second tunable lens, wherein the first tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the first tunable lens i) to be at least partially blocked by the aperture structure, and at least partially passed by the aperture to the second tunable lens, or ii) to be fully passed through the aperture to the second tunable lens, and wherein the second tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the second tunable lens to have substantially the same initial state as the light rays that are input to the first tunable lens. wherein the first tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the first tunable lens i) to be at least partially blocked by the aperture structure, and at least partially passed by the aperture to the second tunable lens, or ii) to be fully passed through the aperture to the second tunable lens, and wherein the second tunable lens is controllably operated to cause the light rays exiting from the second tunable lens to have substantially the same initial state as the light rays that are input to the first tunable lens.