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 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 Technician
- 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”
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- 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.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- 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.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- 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.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- 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.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Related Technology & Tools
- Screw grippers
- Bent post pliers
- Frame shaping pliers
- Nylon-brass mallets
- Visual field testers
- Deblocking pliers
- Cutting pliers
- Lens grinding machines
- Sagitta gauges
- Phoropters
- Hex nut wrenches
- Soldering irons
- Soldering torches
- Lens sizing pliers
- Lens groovers
- Optical chain nose pliers
- Drill presses
- Optical slit lamps
- Trial lens sets
- Optical tweezers
- Lens thickness calipers
- Pupilometers
- pH testers
- Flat nose pliers
- Rimless assembly measuring tools
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
- Tapered eyewire closure pliers
- Wheel cutters
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Retinal cameras
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Pad removing tweezers
- Optical prisms
- Nut wrenches
- Lens cutting machines
- Keratometers
- Mini screwdrivers
- Spectrophotometers
- Frame adjusting pliers
- Self-closing tweezers
- Rimless scribe tools
- Riveting hammers
- Corneal topographers
- Chipping pliers
- Soldering clamps
- Prescription lens aligners
- Lab snips
- Lens polishing machines
- Pupillary distance rulers
- Edge polishers
- Side cutting pliers
- Screw extracting pliers
- Ball cutters
- Snipe nose pliers
- Finger-piece pliers
- Pachymeters
- Lensometers
- Electric soldering kits
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Potential acuity meters PAM
- Angling pliers
- Mini power drills
- Exophthalometers
- Bench polishers
- Argon lasers
- Lens coating machines
- Zylonite files
- Phillips screwdrivers
- Lens tinting equipment
- Specular microscopes
- Stereopsis testers
- Flathead screwdrivers
- Handheld tonometers
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Excel