PbSe quantum dots (QDs) were grown in high-refractive-index low-melting-temperature lead-phosphate glass. The lowest energy exciton transition of the QDs was tuned over a wide range within the infrared spectral region (0.932.75 mu m) by a controlled heat treatment. The measured QD radius ranged between 2 and 5.3nm, with a time (t) dependence of t0.29 for long dwelling times during the heat treatment, indicating that the QD growth mechanism tends to follow Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory. The QD saturable absorber behavior at 1.2 mu m had a measured saturation fluence of 2.1 mu J/cm2.