a system and method for aligning optical fibers that takes into account variations due to temperature changes and other nonrandom systemic effects . the system includes an alignment tool having a plurality of internal reflection surfaces and located below a vision plane of the first one of the pair of optical fibers , and an optical detector to receive an indirect image of a bottom surface of the first optical fiber through the alignment tool , such an offset between the first optical fiber and the optical detector is determined based on the indirect image received by the optical detector . the method comprises the steps of providing a cornercube offset tool having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces below a vision plane of the first optical fiber , and receiving an indirect image of the first optical fiber through the cornercube offset tool .