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AI exposure Production

Will AI replace ophthalmic laboratory technicians?

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians. US occupation 51-9083.

0.0%

of the time ophthalmic laboratory technicians spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of ophthalmic laboratory technicians' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for ophthalmic laboratory techniciansWhat ophthalmic laboratory technicians no longer do alone

O*NET lists 18 tasks for ophthalmic laboratory technicians. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

18 of the 18 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.Core task
  • Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.Core task
  • Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.Core task
  • Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.Core task
  • Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.Core task
  • Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.Core task
Show the other 12
  • Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.Core task
  • Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.Core task
  • Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.Core task
  • Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.Core task
  • Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.Core task
  • Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.Core task
  • Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.Core task
  • Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.Core task
  • Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
  • Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
  • Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
  • Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.

How that compares

Among the 98 production occupations, ophthalmic laboratory technicians rank 67. The group averages 0.8%, and its most exposed job is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers at 12.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Occupational Health and Safety Technicians 0.0%
  2. 346Occupational Therapy Assistants 0.0%
  3. 346Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.