The use of adaptive lenses instead of deformable mirrors can simplify the implementation of an adaptive optics system. The recently introduced Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens (MAL) can be used in closed loop with a wavefront sensor to correct for time-variant wavefront aberrations. The MAL can guarantee a level of correction and a response time similar to the ones obtained with deformable mirrors. The adaptive lens is based on the use of piezoelectric actuators and, without any obstruction or electrodes in the clear aperture, can guarantee a fast response time, less than ∼10ms. Our tests show that the MAL can be used both in combination with a wavefront sensor in a "classical" adaptive optics closed loop, or in a wavefront sensorless configuration. The latter has allowed us to design more compact and simple imaging systems for different microscopy platforms. We will show that the Multi-actuator Adaptive Lens has been successfully used for in-vivo OCT ophthalmic imaging in both mice and humans, as well as confocal and two photon microscopy. We tested and compared different optimization strategies such as coordinate search and the DONE algorithm. The results suggest that the MAL optimization can correct for eye aberrations with a pupil of 5mm or sample induced aberrations in microscopy.