Abstract: Disclosed is a formulation comprising a copolymer comprising one or more bifunctional high refractive index first monomers comprising a high refractive index aromatic core and further comprising one or more UV- or thermally-reactive groups (A) and one or more second monomers comprising a high refractive index core and further comprising one or more groups capable of reacting to increase the solubility of the copolymer in aqueous media (B), and one or more solvents. The formulation may optionally contain additional components. Further disclosed are methods for forming optical thin films from the formulation and optical devices containing the optical thin films.