Will “Laboratory Monitor (Lab Monitor)” 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)
• Hospital Laboratory Technician (Hospital Lab Technician)
• Hand Lens Polisher
• Hand Glass Cutter
• Glass Silverer
• Glass Frame Fitter
• Glass Cutter
• Eyeglass Maker
• 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 “Laboratory Monitor (Lab Monitor)”

• Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
• 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 up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
• Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
• Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
• Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
• Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
• 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.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
• 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.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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