Cast-molding process for producing UV-absorbing contact lenses

A lens-forming composition, comprising:

• (a) at least one lens-forming material,
• (b) at least one photoinitiator,
• (c) at least one thiol-containing compound or polymer in an amount for reducing the curing time of the lens-forming composition, with a light having a wavelength from about 380 to about 460 nm, compared to a control composition which differs from the lens-forming composition only in that the control composition is free of any chain-transfer agent while the lens-forming composition comprises said at least one thiol-containing compound or polymer,
• (d) at least one metal ion scavenger,
• (e) at least one free radical scavenger, and
• (f) optionally at least one polymerizable UV-absorbing component having at least one UV-absorbing moiety which absorbs UV radiation having a wavelength of from 200 nm to 400 nm,
• wherein the lens-forming composition has a pH of from about 2.5 to about 5 and a shelf life of at least 3 days.