Short throw projection lens with a dome

The present invention relates to an outer dome configured to provide protection and optical correction to a system of projection optics and the output thereof. More particularly, an optical projection system having an optical offset of greater than 100% is comprised within a projector housing having an outer dome comprised of an optically active material mounted onto an opening approximately coinciding with the optical projection system's exit pupil. The outer dome is configured to be decenterized from the exit pupil (e.g., the center of the dome is offset from the exit pupil in one or more of an x, y, and z direction) such that it provides optical correction to a projected image. Therefore, an outer dome is configured to provide protection to optical elements provided therein and improvement of projected image quality (e.g., reduced image distortion, reduced aberration).