A system and method for optimizing treatment of tissue of a patient at a surgical site by directing at least a first wavelength of illuminating radiation to a target location on the tissue of the patient to cause at least one type of fluorophore associated with the tissue to fluoresce. At least a first surgical energy is directed to the target location at one of a plurality of power settings, at least one of the power settings capable of quenching fluorescence of the fluorophore. At least one of a plurality of system control settings is adjusted to alter the amount of quenching of the fluorophore, the system control settings including the plurality of power settings.
