Occupations/51-9083.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
73%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
40%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
80%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Mostly routine
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Mostly routine
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- 02Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- 03Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- 04Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- 05Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- 06Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.14
- Degree of automation3.18
- Time sitting2.13
- Originality (ability)2.12
- Conflict situations2.82
- Hands-on objects/tools4.58
- Outdoors / weather1.01
- Disease exposure2.16
- Decision freedom3.99
Top abilities
- Near Vision3.75
- Finger Dexterity3.62
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.62
- Manual Dexterity3.50
- Control Precision3.50
- Deductive Reasoning3.38
- Problem Sensitivity3.25
- Visualization3.12
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.00
- Active Listening2.88
- Writing2.75
- Speaking2.88
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.75
- Critical Thinking3.00
- Active Learning2.75
- Learning Strategies2.50
- Monitoring3.00
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 50 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $65,200 | 14% | 89% | 1 yr $68,499 2 yr $52,107 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $10,700 | 70% | 76% | 1 yr $68,219 2 yr $70,456 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $64,791 2 yr $63,355 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $64,493 2 yr $67,101 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
University of Kansas Lawrence, KS · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $11,400 | 88% | 67% | 1 yr $63,501 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr $63,005 2 yr $62,154 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $62,409 2 yr $57,318 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $4,900 | 100% | 27% | 1 yr $61,303 2 yr $58,092 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Winona State University Winona, MN · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $10,500 | 77% | 67% | 1 yr $61,218 2 yr $64,791 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $4,700 | 100% | 34% | 1 yr $59,576 2 yr $58,479 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
CUNY Hunter College New York, NY · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $7,400 | 48% | 60% | 1 yr $58,673 2 yr $55,693 Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician 51.1006 | $11,700 | 31% | 88% | 1 yr $58,221 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 51.10 |