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Automation Risk Analysis

Will “Optical Technician” be Automated?

Historical Context: Oxford Study (2013)

Ranked #656 of 702. Estimated risk: 97.0%

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AI Exposure Risk

51%

“Optical Technician” will maybe be replaced by AI.

Based on the cognitive demands, communication requirements, and logical reasoning intrinsic to this occupation according to O*NET data, we project a 51% probability of disruption by generative AI and Large Language Models.

Automation & Robot Risk

55%

“Optical Technician” will maybe be replaced by robots.

Evaluating the physical dexterity, repetitive motion tasks, and manual labor associated with this role, our analysis indicates a 55% likelihood of substitution by advanced robotics systems.

Personal & Financial Insights

Every occupation has a unique profile. For Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET classify the day-to-day work broadly as: Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.

Avg. Annual Salary $41,760
Avg. Hourly Wage $20.08
Available Jobs (US) 18,740
Job Title & Hierarchy Code (SOC) Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians #51-9083
Wage vs. National Median
ℹ️

Data is based on the reference occupation: “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”

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Core Skills & Abilities

  • Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.

  • Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.

  • Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.

  • Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.

  • Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.

  • Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.

  • Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.

  • Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.

  • Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.

  • Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.

  • Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.

  • Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.

  • Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.

  • Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.

  • Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.

  • Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.

  • Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.

  • Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.

Technologies & Software

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  • Pupilometers
  • Phillips screwdrivers
  • Optical prisms
  • Snipe nose pliers
  • Lab snips
  • Mini screwdrivers
  • Specular microscopes
  • Exophthalometers
  • Bent post pliers
  • Diagnostic retinoscopes
  • Prescription lens aligners
  • Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
  • Riveting hammers
  • Visual field testers
  • Lens grinding machines
  • Lens groovers
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Lens cutting machines
  • Lens polishing machines
  • Screw extracting pliers
  • Corneal topographers
  • Flat nose pliers
  • Hex nut wrenches
  • Nylon-brass mallets
  • Drill presses
  • Soldering clamps
  • Frame adjusting pliers
  • Keratometers
  • Soldering irons
  • Lens coating machines
  • Flathead screwdrivers
  • Zylonite files
  • Phoropters
  • Retinal cameras
  • Rimless scribe tools
  • Argon lasers
  • Deblocking pliers
  • Tapered eyewire closure pliers
  • pH testers
  • Edge polishers
  • Lens thickness calipers
  • Bench polishers
  • Pachymeters
  • Pad removing tweezers
  • Screw grippers
  • Finger-piece pliers
  • Soldering torches
  • Spectrophotometers
  • Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
  • Chipping pliers
  • Angling pliers
  • Wheel cutters
  • Handheld tonometers
  • Trial lens sets
  • Optical slit lamps
  • Stereopsis testers
  • 3-way screwdrivers
  • Frame shaping pliers
  • Pupillary distance rulers
  • Lensometers
  • Nut wrenches
  • Lens tinting equipment
  • Rimless assembly measuring tools
  • Sagitta gauges
  • Electric soldering kits
  • Optical chain nose pliers
  • Ultrasonic cleaners
  • Potential acuity meters PAM
  • Cutting pliers
  • Optical tweezers
  • Ball cutters
  • Mini power drills
  • Lens sizing pliers
  • Self-closing tweezers

Alternative Job Titles