Abstract: A method for casting plastic lenses includes a step in which lens forming materials having at least one liquid monomer and at least one photosensitive initiator are injected into a mold. The lens forming materials in the mold are subjected to ultraviolet light. The mold assembly is cooled in a liquid cooling bath. The temperature of the lens forming material within the mold is monitored, and the ultraviolet light is turned off when the temperature reaches a predetermined upper set point temperature. The ultraviolet light is turned on again when the temperature falls to a predetermined lower set point temperature. The process can be performed automatically with a programmable process control, which monitors the temperature, compares the temperature to the predetermined set point temperature, and turns the ultraviolet light on and off according to the results of the comparison.

Abstract: A radiation-curable coating composition for ophthalmic lens is disclosed which comprises a mixture of a monoepoxysilane, colloidal silica, an alkylalkoxysilane or tetraalkoxysilane, and an ultraviolet activated photoinitiator capable of initiating a cationic cure of such composition. The photoinitiator is an aromatic onium salt or an iron arene salt complex.