A method of correction of load-induced optical distortion in an optical device includes subjecting an optical device having a first morphology to a predetermined loading condition, determining a deformation to a second morphology of the optical device under said predetermined loading condition, and removing material from at least one surface of said optical device to compensate for said deformation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method can include the steps of subjecting the optical device to a predetermined loading condition, determining a deformation of the optical device under a predetermined loading condition, defining a surface contour across a surface of the optical device to substantially reduce wavefront error due to said deformation across a field of regard when the optical device is subject to said predetermined loading condition, and removing material from a surface of said optical device to create the defined surface contour.