Abstract: A hydrophobic polymer is hydrophilized by polymerizing thereon a compound having the formula ##EQU1## where R.sub.5 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen of atomic weight 9 to 80, phenyl or cyano, R.sub.6 is alkylene or haloalkylene of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sub.7 is alkylene of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 1 to 4, m is an integer of 2 to 5 and R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are lower alkyl, phenyl or tolyl and thereafter hydrolyzing off the silyl groups. Silylated copolymers can also be prepared to form the hydrophilic coating.