Ophthalmic laboratory technicians support patients by constructing customized eyeglasses and contact lenses. They often use specialized equipment and computer programs to automate the process, though they may also create some items by hand. Some specialists may develop lenses for telescopes and binoculars.
When writing your ophthalmic laboratory technician job description, you should include adequate on-the-job training and apprenticeship experience. Most positions require at least a high school diploma, and there may be professional certificate programs available as well.
Along with technical proficiency and training, there are other skills candidates should have, including excellent dexterity and attention to detail. They often work in teams and collaborate with ophthalmologists, so good communication abilities are essential. Read through the professional ophthalmic laboratory technician job description below to see how to include all the necessary information in your own job listing.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Summary
If you are looking for a hands-on job in the medical community with interesting challenges and numerous chances to strengthen your professional resume, apply for our ophthalmic laboratory technician opening. You will work with ophthalmologists and other technicians to create customized eyeglasses and contact lenses for a wide variety of medical clients and direct customers. You can even participate in on-the-job training for the chance to work in the optical instruments group, creating specialized lenses for telescopes and other optical equipment. We are passionate about supporting career advancement and offer one-on-one mentorship and opportunities for promotion. You will also enjoy competitive pay, excellent benefits and a fun team environment with several morale-building activities throughout the year.
Job Responsibilities
- Collect and study detailed work orders and prescriptions for ophthalmic equipment, such as contact lenses and eyeglasses, and determine which manual and automatic equipment to use in the manufacturing process
- Determine proper specifications and settings for laboratory equipment, including requirements for additional tools or attachments, to efficiently and accurately fulfill work orders
- Use manual and computer-aided tools to form, shape and modify materials as necessary to create customized lenses and optical devices
- Measure and examine finished lenses to determine compliance with work order requirements, and repair any defects or issues by polishing, shaping or remaking material as needed
- Inspect completed products for functionality and appearance, and complete shipping and documentation tasks according to standardized procedures
- Collaborate with laboratory personnel and ophthalmologists to develop new procedures for improving fit, effectiveness and comfort of eyeglasses, contact lenses and other optical devices
- Complete repair work orders by choosing optimal repair procedure or manufacturing replacement equipment to meet order requirements and maintain laboratory efficiency
- Participate in on-the-job training to become proficient with all laboratory equipment, and then train new laboratory technicians
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma plus at least one year of ophthalmic lab work experience
- Experience with ophthalmic laboratory equipment and computer programs
- Detail-oriented with excellent dexterity
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred:
- Associate degree in science, healthcare or a related field
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Responsibilities
When creating the responsibilities information in your ophthalmic laboratory technician job description, it is best to focus on the formatting as well as the content. While the latter is the most important, the former determines how effectively readers can understand the information. Write the ophthalmic laboratory technician job responsibilities section as a bullet list with six, seven or eight bullet points. This seems to be the perfect length to avoid readers losing interest or not getting enough information. Additionally, begin every bullet point with a strong action verb to strengthen it and focus on the daily actions employees will need to take.
The responsibilities list should tell candidates who are considering applying everything they need to know about what the job will be like if you hire them. Your ophthalmic laboratory technician job description should clearly portray what working with your company is like. Review these example entries to get started on your own responsibilities section:
- Review prescription details to gain a complete understanding of expectations
- Operate standard ophthalmic laboratory equipment to shape, form and manipulate material into eyeglasses
- Repair damaged glasses to return them to their original design
- Inspect finished products to identify areas in need of improvement and eliminate any imperfections
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Specifications
Once you finish writing your responsibilities section, do not forget to dedicate the same amount of time to developing the job qualifications and skills section, which outlines the ophthalmic laboratory technician job specifications. Because it is typically so short, many employers include it only as an afterthought. In many ways, it is the most important part of your ophthalmic laboratory technician job description, as it determines whether or not a candidate qualifies, directly influencing the kinds of applicants you receive. This section needs to dissuade those who are not qualified while encouraging those who are.
Consider including both mandatory and preferred qualifications, and separate the categories into two short bulleted lists. It is common for the mandatory requirements to be items such as education, previous working experience or foreign languages. You can include the behavioral skills and professional attributes in the preferences section to guide candidates without strictly limiting any from applying. Follow these examples in your ophthalmic laboratory technician job description.
- Associate or bachelor’s degree in ophthalmic-related field preferred
- Must be fully certified to operate ophthalmic laboratory machinery
- 2 years of working experience in an ophthalmic laboratory required
- Must hold strong attention to details and have excellent and precise motor skills