Will “Optical Technician” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
97% Chance of Automation
“Optical Technician” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #656 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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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 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 Technician”
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- 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.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- 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.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- 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.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- 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.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
Related Technology & Tools
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Lens tinting equipment
- Pachymeters
- Deblocking pliers
- Electric soldering kits
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
- Tapered eyewire closure pliers
- Cutting pliers
- Lensometers
- Soldering clamps
- Prescription lens aligners
- Specular microscopes
- Optical prisms
- Mini power drills
- Frame adjusting pliers
- Ball cutters
- Mini screwdrivers
- Soldering torches
- Rimless scribe tools
- Screw grippers
- Screw extracting pliers
- Visual field testers
- Keratometers
- Side cutting pliers
- Edge polishers
- Wheel cutters
- Phoropters
- Flat nose pliers
- Pupillary distance rulers
- Nut wrenches
- Zylonite files
- Lens sizing pliers
- Lens groovers
- Argon lasers
- Spectrophotometers
- Retinal cameras
- Soldering irons
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Self-closing tweezers
- Potential acuity meters PAM
- Lab snips
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Flathead screwdrivers
- Optical slit lamps
- Frame shaping pliers
- Rimless assembly measuring tools
- Bent post pliers
- Bench polishers
- Phillips screwdrivers
- Optical chain nose pliers
- Hex nut wrenches
- Snipe nose pliers
- Sagitta gauges
- Riveting hammers
- Optical tweezers
- Corneal topographers
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Nylon-brass mallets
- Exophthalometers
- Chipping pliers
- pH testers
- Lens coating machines
- Lens polishing machines
- Angling pliers
- Handheld tonometers
- Lens thickness calipers
- Stereopsis testers
- Lens grinding machines
- Trial lens sets
- Lens cutting machines
- Pad removing tweezers
- Pupilometers
- Finger-piece pliers
- Drill presses
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Excel