Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a high water content (greater than about 40% by weight of water) cross-linked hydrogel composition which has an acceptable non-greasy “feel”, sufficient structural integrity and low brittleness, as well as good processing properties. In the process, a photopolymerisable monomer is photopolymerised, in the presence of water, low levels of a multifunctional photopolymerisable cross-limiting agent (less than about 0.5% by weight of the total polymerisation reaction mixture) and low levels of a photoinitiator (between about 0.002% and about 0.05% by weight of the total polymerisation reaction mixture).