A professional who locates and marks centers, axes, and terminal points on ophthalmic lens blanks, draws reference lines, and writes specifications to guide workers who surface or finish lenses. Responsibilities include:

• Reads work order to ascertain lens specifications.
• Examines lens blank to ensure freedom from defects and to verify color and size specifications.
• Positions lens blank to be surfaced on protractor and marks center, direction of cylinder axis, and position of reading lens segment.
• Mounts lens blank to be finished in optical centering and power determining instrument and adjusts dials to align and focus target.
• Compares dial readings with work order to ensure lens blank has been surfaced to meet power and axis specifications.
• Rejects defective lenses.
• Depresses marking device on instrument to mark optical center and horizontal axis of lens blank.
• Writes specifications on lens blank to guide lens fabricating workers.
• May be designated according to department worked in as bench-lay-out technician; surface-lay-out technician.