Will “Lens Dotter” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

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

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”.

Also Known As…

• Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
• 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 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 “Lens Dotter”

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

Related Technology & Tools

• Riveting hammers
• Potential acuity meters PAM
• Cutting pliers
• Retinal cameras
• Chipping pliers
• Bench polishers
• Rimless assembly measuring tools
• Lens coating machines
• Ball cutters
• Pupillary distance rulers
• 3-way screwdrivers
• Pachymeters
• Tapered eyewire closure pliers
• Lens grinding machines
• Spectrophotometers
• Drill presses
• Lens cutting machines
• Specular microscopes
• Flat nose pliers
• Lens thickness calipers
• Deblocking pliers
• pH testers
• Flathead screwdrivers
• Handheld tonometers
• Lensometers
• Corneal topographers
• Bent post pliers
• Optical prisms
• Pad removing tweezers
• Keratometers
• Diagnostic retinoscopes
• Exophthalometers
• Ultrasonic cleaners
• Trial lens sets
• Electric soldering kits
• Sagitta gauges
• Nylon-brass mallets
• Zylonite files
• Argon lasers
• Optical slit lamps
• Self-closing tweezers
• Lens tinting equipment
• Optical chain nose pliers
• Finger-piece pliers
• Mini power drills
• Screw extracting pliers
• Rimless scribe tools
• Prescription lens aligners
• Nut wrenches
• Soldering irons
• Soldering clamps
• Snipe nose pliers
• Frame adjusting pliers
• Lab snips
• Lens sizing pliers
• Lens polishing machines
• Wheel cutters
• Edge polishers
• Visual field testers
• Optical tweezers
• Phoropters
• Hex nut wrenches
• Mini screwdrivers
• Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
• Soldering torches
• Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
• Angling pliers
• Lens groovers
• Phillips screwdrivers
• Side cutting pliers
• Stereopsis testers
• Pupilometers
• Frame shaping pliers
• Screw grippers

• Microsoft Outlook
• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Microsoft Word
• Eyeglass design software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel