Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

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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.

Sample of reported job titles: 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

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Tasks

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

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Technology Skills

All 6 displayed Show 47 tools used

Computer aided design CAD software — Eyeglass design software
Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
Medical software — Electronic medical record EMR software
Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
Word processing software — Microsoft Word

Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.

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Knowledge

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Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

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Skills

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Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management — Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Abilities

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Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Rate Control — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Reaction Time — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Wrist-Finger Speed — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Work Activities

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Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Detailed Work Activities

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Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
Shape glass or similar materials.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Weigh finished products.
Clean workpieces or finished products.
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Repair medical or dental assistive devices.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.
Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Operate grinding equipment.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Operate painting or coating equipment.
Solder parts or workpieces.
Remove workpieces from molds.

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Work Context

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Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 99% responded “Every day.”
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 70% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
Time Pressure — 78% responded “Every day.”
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 62% responded “A lot of freedom.”
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 48% responded “Extremely important.”
Face-to-Face Discussions — 64% responded “Every day.”
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 51% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 51% responded “Extremely important.”
Work With Work Group or Team — 38% responded “Extremely important.”
Freedom to Make Decisions — 46% responded “Some freedom.”
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 39% responded “Extremely important.”
Spend Time Standing — 34% responded “About half the time.”
Exposed to Contaminants — 62% responded “Every day.”
Frequency of Decision Making — 55% responded “Every day.”
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 35% responded “Important results.”
Physical Proximity — 55% responded “Slightly close (e.g., shared office).”
Telephone — 57% responded “Every day.”
Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 73% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 58% responded “Every day.”
Contact With Others — 47% responded “Constant contact with others.”
Deal With External Customers — 51% responded “Extremely important.”
Coordinate or Lead Others — 26% responded “Important.”
Spend Time Walking and Running — 29% responded “Less than half the time.”
Degree of Automation — 56% responded “Moderately automated.”
Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 28% responded “Very high responsibility.”

Job Zone

Title	Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
SVP Range	(4.0 to < 6.0)

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
56	High school diploma or equivalent
15	Some college, no degree
9	Post-secondary certificate

Credentials

Interests

All 2 displayed

Interest code: RC Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Styles

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Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Independence — Job requires developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Work Values

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Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Related Occupations

All 10 displayed

51-4121.00	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
51-5113.00	Print Binding and Finishing Workers
51-6062.00	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-6093.00	Upholsterers
51-9081.00	Dental Laboratory Technicians Bright Outlook
51-9124.00	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-9141.00	Semiconductor Processing Technicians
51-9151.00	Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
51-9161.00	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
51-9191.00	Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2020)	$16.56 hourly, $34,440 annual
State wages
Local wages	ZIP Code:

Employment (2020)	27,500 employees
Projected growth (2020-2030)	Faster than average (10% to 15%)
Projected job openings (2020-2030)	4,000
State trends

Top industries (2020)	Manufacturing Health Care and Social Assistance

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data external site and 2020-2030 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

Sources of Additional Information

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Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics
National Association of Dental Laboratories
National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology
National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.