Abstract: High-speed optical targeting systems and methods are described, wherein a light source, e.g., a laser, is optically coupled with a spatial light modulator. Some embodiments include a device for two-dimensional light steering. In some embodiments, the device comprises a spatial light modulator, and a laser in optical communication with the spatial light modulator. In some exemplary methods, an area is scanned withing a microscope with millisecond revisit time, such as with at least 500 individually targeted points of light. In other exemplary methods, a beam of light is directed from a laser light source into an optical system, through which the light may be focused into a line on a spatial light modulator, wherein the light can be scanned across the spatial light modulator, and directed from the spatial light modulator onto a sample. Other exemplary methods are drawn to the construction and use of the embodiments escribed herein.