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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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