Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9083.00
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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.14
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only18 rated tasks · 3 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (16.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.O*NET Task ID 10532 | 0.5 |
Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.O*NET Task ID 10535 | 0.5 |
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.O*NET Task ID 10540 | 0.5 |
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.O*NET Task ID 10527 | 0.0 |
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.O*NET Task ID 10528 | 0.0 |
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.O*NET Task ID 10529 | 0.0 |
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.O*NET Task ID 10530 | 0.0 |
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.O*NET Task ID 10531 | 0.0 |
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.O*NET Task ID 10533 | 0.0 |
Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.O*NET Task ID 10534 | 0.0 |
Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.O*NET Task ID 10536 | 0.0 |
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.O*NET Task ID 10537 | 0.0 |
Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.O*NET Task ID 10538 | 0.0 |
Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.O*NET Task ID 10539 | 0.0 |
Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.O*NET Task ID 10541 | 0.0 |
Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.O*NET Task ID 10542 | 0.0 |
Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.O*NET Task ID 10543 | 0.0 |
Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.O*NET Task ID 10544 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (18)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment. | Core |
| Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools. | Core |
| Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines. | Core |
| Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames. | Core |
| Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills. | Core |
| Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses. | Core |
| Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents. | Core |
| Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications. | Core |
| Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements. | Core |
| Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually. | Core |
| Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements. | Core |
| Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons. | Core |
| Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut. | Core |
| Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments. | Core |
| Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage. | Supplemental |
| Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates. | Supplemental |
| Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames. | Supplemental |
| Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities. | Supplemental |
0.79/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment. | E0 none |
| Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools. | E0 none |
| Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills. | E0 none |
| Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses. | E2 structured facilities |
| Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons. | E0 none |
| Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities. | E2 structured facilities |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 19K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 19K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $39,460
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84312 | 렌즈 및 프리즘 가공기 조작원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7549Craft and Related Workers not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This group covers craft and trade occupations not classified elsewhere in Major Group 7: Craft and Related Trades Workers. For instance, the group includes those who mould, slice, grind and polish optical lenses and those who arrange flowers for display.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include -
- (a) heating, moulding and pressing optical glass to make lens blanks;
- (b) grinding and polishing lens blanks.
Example occupations
Flower arranger · Optical lens finisher · Optical lens moulder
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- optical technicianESCO 3254.1.1Same scope
Optical technicians assemble, repair and design various parts of eyewear such as lenses, frames, patterns and eyewear. They cut, inspect, mount and polish all parts using various machinery and hand tools. Optical technicians shape, grind and coat lenses for prescription eyewear. They fit completed lenses into eyeglass frames. Optical technicians ensure that lenses conform to the dispensing optician’s, specialised doctor in ophtalmology's or optometrist's prescriptions. They may also work with other associated optical instrumentation and its maintenance.
- optical instrument assemblerESCO 7311.2Overlapping, not the same
Optical instrument assemblers read blueprints and assembly drawings to assemble lenses and optical instruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, projection equipment, and medical diagnostic equipment. They process, grind, polish, and coat glass materials, centre lenses according to the optical axis, and cement them to the optical frame. They may test the instruments after assembly.
- optical instrument repairerESCO 7311.3Overlapping, not the same
Optical instrument repairers repair optical instruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, camera optics, and compasses. They test the instruments to ensure they function properly. In a military context they also read blueprints to be able to repair the instruments.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2923 | Ajusteur-régleur / Ajusteuse-régleuse de fabrication en instruments d'optique | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| H3409 | Polisseur / Polisseuse sur verre | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| J1405 | Opticien / Opticienne | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7615 | Sopladores, modeladores, laminadores, cortadores y pulidores de vidrio | Related, not a match |
| 7899 | Oficiales, operarios y artesanos de otros oficios no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 21362 | Berufe in der Feinoptik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 82522 | Berufe in der Augenoptik - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 545 | 計量計測機器・光学機械器具組立従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources