AR/VR optical systems have been in development for decades and still present new challenges to product design teams. Whether it is the quest for lighter weight, wider field of view, lower power consumption, or higher transmission with better resolution, there is a vast engineering trade space requiring exploration in the design of these types of systems. With so many competing design demands, the importance of accurate simulation of performance cannot be overstated. The evolution of technology has magnified the need for better and more realistic modeling to predict design performance. In this presentation, we show how engineers can accelerate the development of realistic models for simulation and prediction of real-world device behavior. Finally, we show an example of using those tools to optimize product performance in an AR display device.