Will “Eyeglass Maker” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

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.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9083.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 34,220.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 16.00
• Currently, there are 28,570 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”.

Also Known As…

• Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
• Surfacing Technician
• Polisher
• Optical Technician
• Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician)
• Line Operator
• Lens Grinder and Polisher
• Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician)
• Grinder
• Finishing Lab Technician
• Edger Technician
• Test Technician
• Surfacer
• Surface Room Shop Optician
• Surface Grinder
• Spotter
• Spectacle Truer
• Prism Measurer
• Prescription Eyeglass Maker
• Precision Optical Goods Worker
• Precision Lens Polisher
• Precision Lens Grinder
• Precision Lens Generator
• Precision Lens Centerer and Edger
• Optical Worker
• Optical Mechanic
• Optical Laboratory Mechanic
• Optical Instrument Assembler
• Optical Goods Drilling Machine Operator
• Optical Goods Drill Operator
• Optical Element Coater
• Optical Coating Technician
• Ophthalmic Technician
• Lens Silverer
• Lens Shaper Grinder
• Lens Polisher
• Lens Mounter
• Lens Mold Setter
• Lens Maker
• Lens Grinder
• Lens Generator
• Lens Finisher
• Lens Fabricating Machine Tender
• Lens Edger
• Lens Dotter
• Lens Cutter
• Lens Coating Technician
• Lens Cementer
• Layout Technician
• Laboratory Operations Coordinator (Lab Operations Coordinator)
• Laboratory Monitor (Lab Monitor)
• Hospital Laboratory Technician (Hospital Lab Technician)
• Hand Lens Polisher
• Hand Glass Cutter
• Glass Silverer
• Glass Frame Fitter
• Glass Cutter
• Eyeglass Lens Cutter
• Eyeglass Cutter
• Eyeglass Assembler
• Edge Grinder
• Driller
• Dotter
• Diamond Grinder
• Cylinder Worker
• Cylinder Grinder
• Contact Lens Technician
• Contact Lens Manufacturer
• Contact Lens Lathe Operator
• Contact Lens Cutter
• Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter
• Contact Lens Blocker
• Beveler
• Bevel Polisher
• Benchroom Shop Optician
• Bench Hand
• Artificial Plastic Eye Maker
• Artificial Glass Eye Maker

Tasks for “Eyeglass Maker”

• Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
• Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
• Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
• Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
• Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
• Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
• Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
• Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
• Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.

Related Technology & Tools

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

• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Eyeglass design software
• Microsoft Outlook