Monomeric units useful for reducing the modulus of low water polymeric silicone compositions

A contact lens comprising a low water polymeric silicone composition having a Young's modulus of elasticity from about 20 g/mm.sup.2 to about 150 g/mm.sup.2 and formed by polymerizing a monomer mix comprising monomeric units represented by Formula I:

• ##STR25## wherein:
• A is an activated unsaturated group;
• R and D independently are alkyl, alkylene, or haloalkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein said carbon atoms may include ether linkages therebetween;
• M is hydrogen, fluorine, or an alkyl group;
• R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from:
• alkyl or haloalkyl groups wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms;
• siloxane groups;
• and carbocyclic ring groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms;
• m is an integer from 1 to 500;
• n is an integer from 1 to 20;
• x and y are 0 or 1;
• z is 1 or 2;
• and x+y+z=3;
• so long as at least one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

A method for making a low water polymeric silicone composition including the step of polymerizing a monomer mix comprising monomeric units represented by Formula I:

• ##STR29## wherein:
• A is an activated unsaturated group;
• R and D independently are alkyl, alkylene, or haloalkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms wherein said carbon atoms may include ether linkages therebetween;
• M is hydrogen, fluorine, or an alkyl group;
• R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from:
• alkyl or haloalkyl groups wherein ether linkages may be included between carbon atoms;
• siloxane groups;
• and carbocyclic ring groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms;
• m is an integer from 1 to 500;
• n is an integer from 1 to 20;
• x and y are 0 or 1;
• z is 1 or 2;
• and x+y+z=3;
• so long as at least one of R.sub.1 or R2 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.