...the Web's Best Employment Resources

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Job Overview

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians make prescription contact lenses or eyeglasses. They are also known as manufacturing opticians, optical goods workers, or optical mechanics. An ophthalmic laboratory technician is responsible for curving the prescription lenses in a way that they correctly focus the light onto the patients retina as to improve his/her vision. The ophthalmic laboratory technicians can also manufacture lenses for telescopes and binoculars. They cut, grind, edge, and finish the lenses and may even insert them into frames.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Schools and Degrees

For becoming an ophthalmic laboratory technician, one needs to be a high school graduate with haven taken subjects including mathematics, science, and computers. In fact, computer skills are valuable for the ophthalmic laboratory technicians who use automated systems. One also needs to pursue an ophthalmic lab technician training program. The length of these programs may vary from 6 months to 1 year and are offered at vocational schools and community colleges. Sometimes, the armed forces also offer such programs. In an ophthalmic lab technician training program, the students will learn to make glasses by hand as well as by using machinery.

Job Requirements

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians generally begin as helpers and learn new skills while on the job. In entry level positions, an ophthalmic laboratory technician begins with blocking or marking lenses for grinding. However, it may take around 6 months to become an expert in all the phases of the work, and may depend on the aptitude of an individual.

With further education and training, an ophthalmic laboratory technician can become a supervisor or manager. Some may even become dispensing opticians. They must have the knowledge and skills to use automated equipments for making lenses. They also need to know the procedures of choosing the correct blank lenses. In addition, ophthalmic laboratory techs should be able to mark these lenses for grinding and place them properly in the machine. In fact, an ophthalmic laboratory tech also sets the dials for proper grinding.

Nature of Work

Though most of the ophthalmic laboratory techs work in laboratories that manufacture medical equipments and supplies, some of them work in personal care and health stores. These include optical goods stores that sell and manufacture contact lenses and prescription glasses. An ophthalmic laboratory tech may also work in offices of ophthalmologists and optometrists. One can also work in firms that manufacture lenses for binoculars and telescopes.

Most of the ophthalmic laboratory techs have limited contact with the public. They work in laboratories that are well lit, clean, and well ventilated. However, they may have to be on their feet for a major part of the day. The ophthalmic laboratory techs also have to wear protective gloves, eye - wear, or masks and must be precise in their work. Generally, they work around forty hours per week.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Jobs and Outlook

As per the statistics of May 2007, ophthalmic laboratory techs held approximately 30,900 jobs in the US. The job market is expected to increase by 7% in the next ten years. The industries which offer the highest levels of employment include:

• Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
• Health and Personal Care Stores
• Offices of Other Health Practitioners
• Offices of Physicians
• Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers

The mean hourly wage of ophthalmic laboratory techs in the US is around $13.71, and the average annual wages are about $28,530.

Job Numbers and Growth

There were about 29,000 ophthalmic laboratory techs across the US in 2008. Unemployment for workers was considered low in the recent past, relative to other occupations. The percentage of employees unemployed in 2008 was 3%.

Area Job Conditions

The cities with the most employees per capita are St. Cloud (Minnesota), Dover (Delaware), and Boulder (Colorado), while the worst cities are Riverside (California), Louisville (Kentucky), and Sacramento (California).

The highest salaries for ophthalmic laboratory techs are in and around Ann Arbor (Michigan), Oakland (California), and Boulder (Colorado). The lowest-paying areas are Dallas (Texas), Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), and Virginia Beach (Virginia).

Training and Education

Education or job training for workers typically involves moderate-term on-the-job training. At least 12% of employees had a degree of four or more years. About 46% of ophthalmic laboratory techs had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 43% of workers had just a high-school diploma. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

An estimated 13% of ophthalmic laboratory techs work part-time.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin