Systems and methods for optical communication in a downhole tool are disclosed. An optical communication system includes a rotation-varying outer housing that is at least partially rotationally decoupled from an inner member. The inner member is at least partially disposed within the rotation-varying outer housing. The optical communication system also includes one or more transceiver modules, one or more transmitting bulbs rotationally coupled to one of the outer housing or the inner member, and one or more optical sensors rotationally coupled to one of the outer housing or the inner member. The transmitting bulbs are configured to transmit light over at least a portion of a cavity between the transmitting bulbs and the optical sensors, and the optical sensors are configured to receive light over at least a portion of a cavity between the transmitting bulbs and the optical sensors.