Will “Optical Instrument Assembler” 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 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 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 “Optical Instrument Assembler”

• 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.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
• 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.
• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
• Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
• Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
• Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• 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.
• Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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