Opticians, Dispensing

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: 2 (10%)
• AI can speed this up with extra software: 8 (38%)
• Little or no AI speed-up: 11 (52%)

• Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Perform administrative duties, such as tracking inventory and sales, submitting patient insurance information, and performing simple bookkeeping.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Obtain a customer's previous record, or verify a prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Order and purchase frames and lenses.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Arrange and maintain displays of optical merchandise.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
• Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and goods related to eyes, in general.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Fabricate lenses to meet prescription specifications.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Assemble eyeglasses by cutting and edging lenses, and fitting the lenses into frames.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Supervise the training of student opticians.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Grind lens edges, or apply coatings to lenses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Repair damaged frames.Little or no AI speed-up · core task