Production & ManufacturingO*NET: 51-9083.00
Will AI Replace 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.
88out of 100
Critical Risk
AI Risk Score
88/100
Risk Level
Critical
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
14
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- ▸Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- ▸Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (2)
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
👤Requires Humans (2)
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
⚡AI-Assisted (10)
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
Key Skills Analysis
Operation and Control
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Quality Control AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 2.88/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.62/5.00
Related Occupations
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
87/100 — Critical Risk
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
89/100 — Critical Risk
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
86/100 — Critical Risk
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
85/100 — Critical Risk
Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
66/100 — High Risk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians have a critical risk of AI replacement with a score of 88/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research