Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Overview:
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians -- alsoknown as manufacturing opticians, opticalmechanics, or optical goods workers -- makeprescription eyeglass or contact lenses.Prescription lenses are curved in such a waythat light is correctly focused onto the retinaof the patient's eye, improving his or hervision.
Some ophthalmic laboratory techniciansmanufacture lenses for other opticalinstruments, such as telescopes andbinoculars.
Preparation:
Most ophthalmic laboratory technicians learntheir craft on the job; however, manyemployers prefer to hire those with formaltraining.
A few ophthalmic laboratory technicians learntheir trade in the Armed Forces or in the fewprograms in optical technology offered byvocational-technical institutes or tradeschools.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Preparation (continued):
These programs have classes in opticaltheory, surfacing and lens finishing, and thereading and applying of prescriptions.Programs vary in length from 6 months to 1year and award certificates or diplomas.The Commission on Opticianry Accreditation(COA), a not-for-profit agency, thataccredits ophthalmic laboratory technologyprograms in the United States.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Day in the Life:
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians generallywork in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilatedlaboratories. They have limited contact withthe public. Salaried laboratory techniciansusually work 40 hours a week, but some workpart time.
At times, technicians wear goggles to protecttheir eyes, gloves to handle hot objects, ormasks to avoid inhaling dust. They may spenda great deal of time standing.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Earnings:
According to the U.S. Department of Labor,Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annualwages of wage and salary ophthalmic laboratorytechnicians is $27,210. The middle 50 percentearned between $21,580 and $34,810. Thelowest 10% earned less than $18,080, and thehighest 10% earned more than $42,890.Median annual wages were $25,250 in medicalequipment and supplies manufacturing and$25,580 in health and personal care stores, thetwo industries that employ the most ophthalmiclaboratory technicians.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
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Employment:
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians hold about35,200 jobs in the United States. About 55percent of salaried jobs were in medicalequipment and supply manufacturinglaboratories, which usually are small, privatelyowned businesses with fewer than 5employees. However, some laboratories arelarge; a few employ more than 1,000 workers.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Career Path Forecast:
According to the U.S. Department of Labor,Bureau of Labor Statistics, ophthalmiclaboratory technicians are expected toexperience employment growth of 15 percentfrom 2008 - 2018, faster than the average forall occupations. Demographic trends make itlikely that many more Americans will needvision care in the years ahead. However, theincreasing use of automated machinery willtemper job growth for ophthalmic laboratorytechnicians.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
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Resources:
More information about OphthalmicLaboratory Technician is available at the SloanCareer Cornerstone Center, includingaccredited university programs, suggestionsfor precollege students, a free monthlycareers newsletter, and a PDF summarizingthe field.
Associations:
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
