Abstract: The present invention relates to polymerizable derivatives of carbohydrates comprising a compound of formula (I)R.sup.1 --(COO--Alk).sub.m --(OCONH--R).sub.n --(NHCO).sub.p --Y--Z (I)whereinR.sup.1 is a radically polymerizable hydrocarbon group;m, n and p are 0 or 1;Alk is alkylene having up to 10 carbon atoms;R is a diradical, having up to 20 carbon atoms, of an organic diisocyanate;Z is a monovalent radical, minus a single hydroxy group, of a mono-, di- or tri-saccharide, of an oligosaccharide, of a cyclodextrin (CD) or of an anhydrosaccharide; andY is --O-- or --NH--;with the proviso that when p is zero, m and n are also zero and Y is --NH--; to homopolymers, copolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers and polymeric networks thereof, to molded articles, for example contact lenses or biomedicinal articles, comprising the mentioned polymers, as well as to processes for the preparation of the mentioned polymers and articles.