Will “Lens Grinder and Polisher” 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
• 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 and Polisher
• 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 “Lens Grinder and Polisher”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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