A system and method for measuring optical power is described. The optical system and method may include a module configured to generate a secondly modulated signal based on secondly modulating a firstly modulated signal with an amplitude modulated signal. The firstly modulated signal may include data that is modulated for transmission by a laser diode array. The firstly modulated signal may then be secondly modulated using amplitude modulation techniques. The system may further include a photodiode configured to generate a photodiode current based on optically sensing a laser diode array. The laser diode array outputs an optical output power based on being driven by the secondly modulated signal. The system may yet further include a controller configured to calculate the optical output power from the photodiode current based on the amplitude modulated signal.