AI exposure score

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians score 9 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #760 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 18 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 3 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

9/ 100

Low

Rank: #760of 923 jobs
US workers: 18,660BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $39,460a year
In real AI use: 0 of 18tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 3 (17%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 15 (83%)

Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about ophthalmic laboratory technicians and AI

Will AI replace ophthalmic laboratory technicians?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians score 9 out of 100 (low exposure), #760 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 3 of the job's 18 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 15 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which ophthalmic laboratory technicians tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses"; "Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments"; "Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements".

Which ophthalmic laboratory technicians tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines"; "Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements"; "Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as ophthalmic laboratory technicians, and what do they earn?

About 18,660 people in the US, with median pay of $39,460 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.