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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician

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AVG. SALARY

$38,210

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Career Video

About This Career

Cuts, grinds, and polishes eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assembles and mounts lenses into frames or processes other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Mounts and secures lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
  • Inspects lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
  • Sets up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
  • Inspects, weighs, and measures mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
  • Shapes lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
  • Cleans finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
  • Mounts, secures, and aligns finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
  • Examines prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
  • Adjusts lenses and frames to correct alignment.
  • Selects lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Edger Technician
  • Finishing Lab Technician
  • Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician)
  • Lens Grinder and Polisher
  • Line Operator
  • Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician)
  • Optical Technician
  • Polisher
  • Surfacing Technician