A display apparatus has a birefringent ocular having a first index of refraction for light having a first polarization axis and a second index of refraction, lower than the first index by at least 0.1, for light having a second polarization axis that is orthogonal to the first polarization axis, wherein the birefringent ocular defines an eye box for a viewer. An image source emits image-bearing light having the first polarization axis. A polarization beam splitter is disposed to reflect the image-bearing light of the first polarization axis toward the birefringent ocular and further disposed to transmit, from an object scene, light having the second polarization axis.