Will “Laboratory Operations Coordinator (Lab Operations Coordinator)” 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 Monitor (Lab Monitor)
• 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 Operations Coordinator (Lab Operations Coordinator)”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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