Will “Precision Lens Centerer and Edger” 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
• 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 Dotter
• 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 “Precision Lens Centerer and Edger”

• 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.
• Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
• Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
• Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
• Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
• 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.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
• Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• 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.
• Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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