Confocal reflection readout thresholds in two-photon-induced optical recording in photoisomerization polymer are studied both theoretically and experimentally. A threshold of the axial response from a planar reflector with a refractive-index change of the order of 10(-2) is revealed. However, the threshold is reduced to 0.006 when strong forward scattering caused by the recorded bits leads to multiple reflection between the bit and the rare surface, which enhances the image contrast and reduces the readout threshold. The quality of the reconstructed bit image is strongly dependent on the refractive-index mismatch at the sample rare interface as well as the distance between the recorded position and the rare surface.