The invention relates to a waveguide display element for guiding an image from a first lateral zone of the element to a second lateral zone of the element, the element comprising a plurality of waveguide layers (40A-E) on top of each other. The element further comprises at least one intermediate diffractive optical element (44AB, 44BC, 44AD, 44DE) arranged between two of said waveguide layers. The intermediate diffractive optical element (44AB, 44BC, 44AD, 44DE) is adapted to change the distribution of propagating light power between the layers. The invention also concerns a diffractive display device comprising such element.