Optical Laboratory Technician

Optical Laboratory Technician

Duties and Responsibilities:

Optical laboratory technicians grind and fit eyeglass lenses into frames according to prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists. Technicians set lens grinding machines so the lens blanks are ground and polished. They then place the fitted, polished lenses into the eyeglass frames and, depending upon where they work, fit the fames to the patients. Some ophthalmic technicians work in optical laboratories or for optometrists or ophthalmologists. Many work in retail stores that have optical departments.

Average Salary:  $15,000 - $20,000

Educational Requirements:

A high school diploma or GED certificate is needed to begin optical laboratory training.  Training programs last between six months and one year and are provided by vocational schools and community colleges.  Some retail store optical departments provide on-the-job training.

Reflection: I wouldn’t like to be an optical laboratory technician because it does not seem like something I see myself doing in the future.