Careers · Explore one path
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.
Other titles employers use
Edger Technician · Finishing Lab Technician · Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician) · Lens Grinder and Polisher · Line Operator · Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician) · Optical Technician · Polisher
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Finger Dexterity
- Manual Dexterity
- Control Precision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.5 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.9 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.2 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.6 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 61%
- A certificate or some college 23%
- A two-year degree 7%
- A four-year degree 4%
- A master's degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Medical software
- Computer aided design CAD software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,480
- Job openings each year
- 300
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 14.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,480 | 300 | 14.3% |
| California | 2,000 | 240 | — |
| Florida | 1,860 | 220 | 12.0% |
| New York | 1,680 | 0 | — |
| Minnesota | 1,500 | 180 | 7.1% |
| Washington | 1,100 | 140 | 10.0% |
| Kentucky | 830 | 100 | 2.5% |
| Illinois | 630 | 70 | 1.6% |
| Georgia | 610 | 70 | 5.2% |
| Ohio | 550 | 60 | −8.3% |
| Louisiana | 500 | 60 | 2.0% |
| Colorado | 490 | 60 | 4.3% |
| Indiana | 490 | 60 | 2.1% |
| Missouri | 430 | 50 | 2.4% |
| Connecticut | 360 | 40 | 2.9% |
| Virginia | 360 | 40 | 9.1% |
| Wisconsin | 340 | 40 | 9.7% |
| Oklahoma | 330 | 40 | 3.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 330 | 40 | — |
| Puerto Rico | 330 | 40 | 13.8% |
| Michigan | 310 | 40 | 3.3% |
| Oregon | 300 | 40 | 7.1% |
| Arizona | 280 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Nevada | 260 | 30 | 18.2% |
| South Carolina | 220 | 30 | 15.8% |
| Alabama | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Nebraska | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| New Hampshire | 190 | 20 | — |
| Iowa | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| North Carolina | 180 | 20 | 5.9% |
| Arkansas | 150 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Maryland | 150 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Tennessee | 140 | 20 | 7.7% |
| Mississippi | 120 | 10 | — |
| Idaho | 50 | 10 | 25.0% |
| West Virginia | 50 | 10 | — |
| New Jersey | 30 | 0 | — |
| South Dakota | 30 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 30 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Degrees each year
- 163
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHUniversity of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 152
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $22,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college OHCleveland State University
- Degrees each year
- 142
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college MIMichigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 68
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college NCWinston-Salem State University
- Degrees each year
- 54
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TNAustin Peay State University
- Degrees each year
- 49
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college KYUniversity of Kentucky
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college NYCUNY Hunter College
- Degrees each year
- 45
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions