A system and method for imaging retinal tissues in an eye generates an input light beam having ultra-short pulses and an input wavelength (λi) to stimulate the tissue. Depending on the particular type tissue being imaged, the retinal tissue responds to the input beam by generating a return beam of light having first and second components of different wavelengths (λr1 and λr2). An imaging unit then receives the return light and images the tissue according to the return wavelength (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2). Additionally, a sensor unit is used to evaluate light returning from the retina to measure optical and phase aberrations introduced by the eye, and to program a compensator (e.g. an active mirror) that compensates the input beam by removing the aberrations.