The disclosure provides for a free-space optical communication system (100) that includes a first lens group (310), a field corrector lens (330), and a second lens group (320). The first lens group (310) is configured to receive light received from a remote free-space optical transmitter. The first lens group (310) has a first focal plane (316). The field corrector lens (330) is positioned between the first lens group (310) and the first focal plane (316) of the first lens group and positioned closer to the first focal plane (316) than the first lens group (310). The field corrector lens (330) also is made of material having an index of refraction of at least 2.0, and has a second focal plane (336). The second lens group (320) is positioned at the second focal plane (336) of the field corrector lens and is configured to couple light to a sensor (146). An associated method involves operating, by one or more processors, an optical communication device according to the light received at the sensor, specifically a photodetector.