Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Also called: Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician), Optical Technician

Career Cluster: Manufacturing
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
KNOWLEDGE

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Business
  • customer service
SKILLS

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
ABILITIES

Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers
Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
PERSONALITY

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others
  • Persistence
TECHNOLOGY

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
Medical software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
EDUCATION


high school diploma/GED or some college
usually needed
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JOB OUTLOOK

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Salary:
High: $55,480.00
Median: $38,420.00
Low: $31,250.00
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