A power monitor for a light emitter uses an absorptive material placed in the path of the application beam. The absorptive has a measurable characteristics thereof altered by an intensity of the light beam, the absorptive material being thin enough to allow a portion of the light beam sufficient for a desired application to be passed to the desired application. Preferably, an anti-reflective coating is placed between the absorptive material and the light emitting device. The absorptive material may be formed directly on the light emitting device or may be formed on or integrated with a spacer.