In this method, the laser induced damage threshold for a material is obtained by determining the fluence within the damaging beam at a radial distance equal to the radius of the damage spot. The energy profile of the laser pulse is determined by translating a slit across the beam and reading the energy passing through the slit with position. The laser profile is then quantified into fluence squares of area 400um² in a two dimensional fluence grid. The radius of the damage site is then applied to the fluence grid, indicating the fluence square that corresponds to the edge of damage and it is this value that is the predicted damage threshold.