**4. Conclusions**

In adaptive optics the choice of the optimal correction strategy depends on the required ap‐ plication, desired image quality, and affordable complexity/cost of the final system. In this context, sensorless adaptive optics provides several solutions, most of them implementable at a simplified and relatively low-cost level, that can be exploited for a wide range of appli‐ cations.

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We have presented here both a review of the most diffused systems used in sensorless adap‐ tive optics and some recently developed algorithms and devices. Essentially, two different approaches are employed: those based on random search and the subsequent application of evolutionary strategies, and those based on the application of some bias aberration. In gen‐ eral, the second class of algorithms present a faster convergence.

We have shown several application examples in different fields, such as the optimiza‐ tion of ultrafast nonlinear optical systems for the generation of high order harmonics, the image sharpening in microscopy applications and the enhancement of optical coher‐ ent tomography.

Sensorless adaptive optics appears, therefore, as having a great potential for finding new ap‐ plications in current and future technologies. The continuous improvement of the optimiza‐ tion algorithms and development of novel deformable mirror devices, make the integration of AO into various optical systems increasingly easier. Particularly, the conjunction of sen‐ sorless AO with OCT might open the way to a new generation of diagnostic imaging.
