Systems and methods for reducing stray light in augmented reality and related applications

An optical display apparatus comprising the following components:

• a display comprising a transparent backplane or coverwindow comprising a plurality of pixels or patches of pixels, wherein spaces between the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels allow for transmission of real world light to reach an eye of a user of the optical display apparatus;
• a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlenses;
• a plurality of hollow structures located between the display and the microlens array, wherein the plurality of hollow structures are configured to prevent and/or block stray light from reaching the eye of the user of the optical display apparatus;
• a plurality of light blocking shielding plates on a side of the plurality of pixels or patches of pixels facing away from the microlens array and towards a real world environment;
• and
• a plurality of annular light blocking shields, wherein an annular light blocking shield of the plurality of annular light blocking shields surrounds or encircles a microlens of the plurality of microlenses.