Occupation Details
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
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.
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Interests
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 Values
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.
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.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,840.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,050.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$47,570.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
2,680
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
3,620
+94 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
493
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.4%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
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.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
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, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
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.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Angling pliers
- Argon lasers
- Ball cutters
- Bench polishers
- Bent post pliers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Chipping pliers
- Corneal topographers
- Deblocking pliers
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Drill presses
- Edge polishers
- Electric soldering kits
- Exophthalometers
- Finger-piece pliers
- Flat nose pliers
- Flathead screwdrivers
- Frame shaping pliers
- Handheld tonometers
- Hex nut wrenches
- Keratometers
- Lab snips
- Lens coating machines
- Lens cutting machines
- Lens groovers
- Lens polishing machines
- Lens sizing pliers
- Lens thickness calipers
- Lens tinting equipment
Technology
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- lay out machining, welding or precision assembly projects
- load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- set up production equipment or machinery
- test manufactured products or materials
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- maintain production or work records
- attach or mark identification onto products or containers
- perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- understand machine setup instructions
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- plan or organize work
- make independent judgment in assembly procedures
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- cut or grind optical lenses
- operate optical manufacturing equipment
- operate paint or coating application production machinery
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
- use spray paint equipment
- use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
- use hand or power tools
- solder metal parts or components together
- use soldering equipment
- mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
- fabricate components for precision instruments
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- read blueprints
- read specifications
- read technical drawings
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Dental and Optical Laboratory Technicians
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreOphthalmic laboratory technicians
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More