Diagnostics of abrasive tools requires the use of modern measurement techniques which allows for fast assessment of a surface in order to determine, for example, the degree of its wear or to detect various type of defects. A wide group of optical measurement methods used for this type of assessment are based on the phenomenon of light scattering. One such method based on imaging and analysis of light scattering from a surface is laser scatterometry. In this paper, by utilizing laser scatterometry supported by image analysis techniques, a proposal for a methodology of assessment of the degree to which smearing of the grinding wheel active surface (GWAS) occurs during the plunge grinding process, was presented and discussed. Select results of experimental investigations carried out on bearing steel 100Cr6 were also presented. The obtained results confirmed the efficacy of the above-mentioned techniques that could be an interesting alternative to other methods already used in such measurements.