An lens for correcting human vision, for example an IOL, contact lens or corneal inlay or onlay, that carries and interior phase or layer comprising a pattern of individual transparent adaptive displacement structures. In one embodiment, the displacement structures are actuated by a shape memory polymer (SMP) material or other polymer that is adjustable in shape in response to applied energy. The SMP can be designed to be selectively adjustable in volumetric dimension, modulus of elasticity and/or permeability. The adaptive optic means of the invention can be used to create highly localized surface corrections in the lens to correct higher order aberrations--which types of surfaces cannot be fabricated into and IOL and then implanted. The system of displacement structures also can provide spherical corrections in the lens.