A virtual reality (VR) headset includes an electronic display element, a corrective element, and an optics block. The electronic display element outputs image light via a plurality of sub-pixels that are separated from each other by a dark space. The corrective element is configured to generate blur spots in the image light that mask the dark space between adjacent sub-pixels, with each blur spot corresponding to a blurred image of a sub-pixel in the image light. The optics block is configured to magnify the image light received from the corrective element and to optically correct the magnified image light. Optically corrected light is directed form the optics block to an exit pupil of the VR headset for presentation to a user.