Abstract: A method for producing a sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product by preparing an aqueous mixture of water, a polymer which can be cross-linked by radiation to form a hydrogel, and a cross-linking inhibitor in an amount sufficient to retard the cross-linking of the polymer when the mixture is exposed to radiation; providing the mixture in a predetermined shape or configuration representative of a hydrogel product; enclosing the shaped mixture in a sealed package; and subjecting the package to a dose of radiation sufficient to simultaneously cross-link and sterilize the mixture to provide a sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product. The invention also is directed to the sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product formed by this method, as well as the packaged product prior to sterilization.