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An ophthalmic medical technician shapes and cuts glass to make prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They work in medical laboratories and need to be comfortable working with delicate machines. They usually work in hospitals or clinics and need at least a high school diploma and on-the-job training or an optical technology program. There is a consistent demand for qualified technicians due to a growing population in need of corrective lenses and new technological advances.
An ophthalmic medical technician cuts and shapes glass to make prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. He or she works in a medical laboratory, manufacturing lenses to the specifications of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. A technician takes a blank piece of glass or plastic and performs all of the cutting, grinding, shaping, finishing, and fitting tasks necessary to create a perfect prescription lens.
While most lens work has been done by hand, advances in medical technology require an ophthalmic technician to be comfortable working with delicate machines. An automated machine called a lens grinder is used to bend a blank eyeglass lens according to an optometrist’s prescription. An ophthalmic medical technician carefully examines the lens with a special magnifying tool to ensure the curvature is correct. After confirming the curvature, the technician employs a finishing tool, which can be manual or automated, to smooth out imperfections. After a lens is milled into its approximate final shape, the technician cuts the lens to fit a specific eyeglass frame.
Hospitals and general ophthalmology clinics are the main employers of ophthalmic medical technicians, although some professionals find work in private offices of optometrists and in retail stores. Regardless of the job setting, technicians often work in similar labs with access to the same tools. A technician’s work usually takes place in the public eye, although he or she will occasionally need to communicate with opticians, optometrists, and clients throughout the lens creation process to ensure specifications are met.
To become an eye medical technician, a person typically must have at least a high school diploma and complete on-the-job training. Some employers prefer to hire technicians who have completed optical technology programs offered by community colleges and vocational schools. These programs typically last from six months to a year and graduates receive either an ophthalmic medical technician certificate or an associate degree. Training periods can last up to one year and consist of hands-on laboratory instruction. New technicians in training often assist experienced professionals by learning about the equipment and techniques needed in the trade.
There is a consistent demand for qualified ophthalmic medical technicians in all workplaces. Skilled technicians are needed to meet the needs of a growing population of people who need corrective lenses. New technological advances in machine manufacturing, along with the influx of new eyeglass and contact lens styles, require specialists to adapt to a changing career field.
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