A system includes a light source to generate a source light, a spatial modulator to receive the source light. a display element to receive the source light from the spatial modulator and to direct the source light towards an eye, and a controller. The controller is to receive initial image data for an image to be displayed, the image comprising a plurality of pixels having a plurality of brightness levels, determine an image power based on the brightness levels, and determine an excess power status based on a comparison of the image power to a specified power threshold. Responsive to the excess power status indicating the image power is to exceed the specified power threshold, the controller is to reduce the brightness levels to generate updated image data, and control the light source and the spatial modulator to project the image using the updated image data.