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”

• Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
• Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
• Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
• Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• 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.
• Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
• 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.
• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
• Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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