An adaptive optics wavefront error correction method based on deformable mirror (DM) eigen modes is proposed for high-resolution space optical remote sensors. The influence functions of DM actuators are used to obtain a set of DM eigen modes whose derivatives are orthogonal with each other. The integration of image power spectrum at low spacial frequence area is used as merit function. The required correction amount of each mode is directly solved from the relationship between eigen-mode coefficients and the merit function. The eigen modes are obtained from the 37-channel DM. The correction accuracy of Zernike aberrations is discussed by simulation in open-loop and closed-loop modes. The effect of phase bias and spatial frequency range of image on correction accuracy is analyzed quantitatively. The simulation result of thermal deformations of the primary mirror of optical remote sensor is provided. The influence of image noise and different remote images on the method is discussed. The simulation results show that the method effectively corrects wavefront errors. With the advantage of fast convergence speed and insensitivity to image noise and image content, the DM eigen modes based wavefront error correction method is appropriate for space optical remote sensors.