To make prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, an ophthalmic medical technician cuts and shapes glass. He or she works in a medical laboratory, making lenses to the specifications of an optometrist or ophthalmologist. A technician begins with a blank piece of glass or plastic and completes all of the necessary cutting, grinding, shaping, finishing, and fitting tasks to create a perfect prescription lens.
While most lens crafting used to be done by hand, advances in medical technology now necessitate an ophthalmic medical technician’s ability to work with delicate machinery. A lens grinder is an automated machine that curves a blank eyeglass lens according to an optometrist’s prescription. The lens is then carefully examined with a special magnifying tool by an ophthalmic medical technician to ensure that the curvature is correct. After confirming the curvature, the technician uses a hand-held or automated finishing tool to smooth out any imperfections. The technician cuts the lens to fit into a specific eyeglass frame after it has been ground into its approximate final shape.
Ophthalmic medical technicians work primarily in hospitals and general eye care clinics, though some professionals also work in private optometrists’ offices and retail stores. Technicians frequently work in similar labs with access to the same tools, regardless of their job setting. A technician’s work is usually done behind closed doors, though he or she may need to communicate with opticians, optometrists, and customers at times during the lens-making process to ensure that specifications are met.
A person must typically have a high school diploma and complete on-the-job training to become an ophthalmic medical technician. Technicians who have completed optical technology programs at community colleges and vocational schools are preferred by some employers. Graduates receive an ophthalmic medical technician certificate or associate degree after completing these programs, which typically last six months to a year. Training periods can last up to a year and include hands-on laboratory training. In order to learn about the equipment and techniques required in the trade, new technicians in training frequently assist experienced professionals.
In all job settings, qualified ophthalmic medical technicians are in high demand. To meet the needs of a growing population of people who require corrective lenses, skilled technicians are required. Experts must adapt to a changing career field as new technological advances in crafting machinery, as well as the influx of new eyeglass and contact lens styles, become available.