Will “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
97% Chance of Automation
“Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians” 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
Also Known As…
- 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 “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”
- 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.
- 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.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
- 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.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Related Technology & Tools
- Chipping pliers
- Lensometers
- Prescription lens aligners
- Electric soldering kits
- Ball cutters
- Pupilometers
- Soldering clamps
- Spectrophotometers
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Frame shaping pliers
- Hex nut wrenches
- Retinal cameras
- Pupillary distance rulers
- Lens thickness calipers
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Pachymeters
- Snipe nose pliers
- Tapered eyewire closure pliers
- Lab snips
- Phoropters
- Phillips screwdrivers
- Trial lens sets
- Soldering torches
- Optical chain nose pliers
- Specular microscopes
- Lens sizing pliers
- Flat nose pliers
- Visual field testers
- Mini screwdrivers
- Lens groovers
- Wheel cutters
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Potential acuity meters PAM
- Handheld tonometers
- Optical tweezers
- Pad removing tweezers
- Cutting pliers
- Bench polishers
- Lens cutting machines
- Lens grinding machines
- Bent post pliers
- Finger-piece pliers
- Corneal topographers
- Screw grippers
- Edge polishers
- Flathead screwdrivers
- Lens coating machines
- Stereopsis testers
- Rimless scribe tools
- Mini power drills
- Nylon-brass mallets
- Zylonite files
- Angling pliers
- Optical prisms
- Side cutting pliers
- Optical slit lamps
- Riveting hammers
- Exophthalometers
- Lens polishing machines
- Keratometers
- Rimless assembly measuring tools
- Self-closing tweezers
- Lens tinting equipment
- Deblocking pliers
- Frame adjusting pliers
- Sagitta gauges
- Nut wrenches
- Argon lasers
- pH testers
- Soldering irons
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
- Drill presses
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Screw extracting pliers
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Eyeglass design software