Methods for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses

The present invention provides methods and compositions for producing lenses by casting. The processes utilize a two-stage, ultraviolet cure to provide a fast and reliable method for producing ophthalmic lenses. A method for producing spectacle lenses comprising the steps of: (a) exposing to low intensity ultraviolet light a mold assembly comprising a mold half and an optical preform and a surface-forming effective amount of a resin comprising reactive groups, the low intensity UV light exposure carried out under conditions suitable to convert at least about 50 percent or more of the resin reactive groups; and (b) exposing, subsequently, the resin to high intensity UV light under conditions suitable to substantially complete through curing of the resin and lens formation, wherein the low intensity ultraviolet light is about 1 to about 5 mW/cm at about 300 to about 450 nm and the high intensity ultraviolet light is about 500 to about 1500 mW/cm at about 300 to about 450 nm.