An augmented reality (AR) display system for delivering augmented reality content to a user, comprising: an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data; a light modulator to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data; a lens assembly comprising first and second transmissive plates , the first and second transmissive plates each having a first side and a second side that is opposite to the first side, the first side being a plano side, and the second side being a shaped side, the second side of the first transmissive plate comprising a first surface sag based at least in part on a cubic function, and the second side of the second transmissive plate comprising a second surface sag based at least in part on an inverse of the cubic function; and a diffractive optical element (DOE) to receive the light associated with the one or more frames of image data and direct the light to the user's eyes, the DOE being disposed between and adjacent to the first side of the first transmissive plate and the first side of the second transmissive plate , wherein the DOE is configured to guide the light associated with the one or more frames of image data, and wherein the DOE is encoded with refractive lens information corresponding to the inverse of the cubic function such that when the DOE is aligned so that the refractive lens information of the DOE cancels out the cubic function of the first transmissive plate , a wavefront of the light created by DOE is compensated by the wavefront created by the first transmissive plate , thereby generating collimated light rays associated with virtual content delivered to the DOE . an image-generating source to provide one or more frames of image data; a light modulator to transmit light associated with the one or more frames of image data; a lens assembly comprising first and second transmissive plates , the first and second transmissive plates each having a first side and a second side that is opposite to the first side, the first side being a plano side, and the second side being a shaped side, the second side of the first transmissive plate comprising a first surface sag based at least in part on a cubic function, and the second side of the second transmissive plate comprising a second surface sag based at least in part on an inverse of the cubic function; and a diffractive optical element (DOE) to receive the light associated with the one or more frames of image data and direct the light to the user's eyes, the DOE being disposed between and adjacent to the first side of the first transmissive plate and the first side of the second transmissive plate , wherein the DOE is configured to guide the light associated with the one or more frames of image data, and wherein the DOE is encoded with refractive lens information corresponding to the inverse of the cubic function such that when the DOE is aligned so that the refractive lens information of the DOE cancels out the cubic function of the first transmissive plate , a wavefront of the light created by DOE is compensated by the wavefront created by the first transmissive plate , thereby generating collimated light rays associated with virtual content delivered to the DOE . <EOS>