Will “Surfacer” 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
• 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 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 “Surfacer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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