An optical detection tool employs a surgical end-effector (30) and an optical fiber (20). In operation, the surgical end-effector (30) is navigated within an anatomical region relative to an object foreign to the anatomical region and the optical fiber (20) generates an encoded optical signal indicative of a strain measurement profile of the optical fiber (20) as the surgical end-effector (30) is navigated within the anatomical region. The optical fiber (20) has a detection segment in a defined spatial relationship with the surgical end-effector (30). The strain measurement profile represents a normal profile in the absence of any measurable contact of the foreign object with the detection segment of the optical fiber (20). Conversely, the strain measurement profile represents an abnormal profile in response to a measurable contact of the foreign object with the detection segment of the optical fiber (20).