Will “Precision Lens Grinder” 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 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 “Precision Lens Grinder”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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