What Do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.

Other tasks include:

• 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.

We asked Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

53% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 63% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents. They mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.

A typical day for an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician will also include:

• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
• 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.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.

We asked some Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians also control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities. They may also repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames. They might also Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.

In addition, they Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.

To some Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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