A device for optically transmitting data over an optical communication path, the device comprising: a processor; a memory, the memory storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the device to perform operations comprising: receiving an error correction code-encoded bitstream for transmission; determining that the bitstream includes a sequence of a first number of consecutive bits with a same first value, the sequence being associated with a first peak transmission power that is positively correlated with the first number of consecutive bits in the sequence; changing a selected bit in the sequence of consecutive bits from the first value to a second value that is different from the first value to create a modified sequence, the modified sequence including a second number of consecutive bits from the sequence with the first value, the second number being less than the first number, the modified sequence being associated with a second peak transmission power to transmit the modified sequence that is positively correlated with the second number, the second peak transmission power being lower than the first peak transmission power; and optically transmitting the modified sequence over the optical communication path by selectively activating a light source to transmit a single bit of the first value at the second peak transmission power. a processor; a memory, the memory storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the device to perform operations comprising: receiving an error correction code-encoded bitstream for transmission; determining that the bitstream includes a sequence of a first number of consecutive bits with a same first value, the sequence being associated with a first peak transmission power that is positively correlated with the first number of consecutive bits in the sequence; changing a selected bit in the sequence of consecutive bits from the first value to a second value that is different from the first value to create a modified sequence, the modified sequence including a second number of consecutive bits from the sequence with the first value, the second number being less than the first number, the modified sequence being associated with a second peak transmission power to transmit the modified sequence that is positively correlated with the second number, the second peak transmission power being lower than the first peak transmission power; and optically transmitting the modified sequence over the optical communication path by selectively activating a light source to transmit a single bit of the first value at the second peak transmission power. receiving an error correction code-encoded bitstream for transmission; determining that the bitstream includes a sequence of a first number of consecutive bits with a same first value, the sequence being associated with a first peak transmission power that is positively correlated with the first number of consecutive bits in the sequence; changing a selected bit in the sequence of consecutive bits from the first value to a second value that is different from the first value to create a modified sequence, the modified sequence including a second number of consecutive bits from the sequence with the first value, the second number being less than the first number, the modified sequence being associated with a second peak transmission power to transmit the modified sequence that is positively correlated with the second number, the second peak transmission power being lower than the first peak transmission power; and optically transmitting the modified sequence over the optical communication path by selectively activating a light source to transmit a single bit of the first value at the second peak transmission power.