National

Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements.

Sample of reported job titles: Lab Technician, Optical Technician, Surfacing Technican, Finishing Lab Technician, Lens Grinder and Polisher, Optical Lab Technician, Grinder, Edger Technician, Line Operator, Polisher

Tasks

• Adjust lenses and frames in order to correct alignment.
• Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
• Inspect lens blanks in order to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses in order to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, and other optical elements.
• Set dials and start machines to polish lenses, or hold lenses against rotating wheels in order to polish them manually.