Mold assembly for forming ophthalmic lens, method of producing the same, and method of producing ophthalmic lens using the mold assembly

A mold assembly for forming an ophthalmic lens, said mold assembly comprising a first mold and a second mold which cooperate with each other to define therebetween a mold cavity having a profile following that of said ophthalmic lens, wherein the improvement comprises:

• at least one of said first and second molds being a coated mold consisting of a body portion including a backing surface having rigidity and mechanical strength enough to withstand a molding operation for forming said ophthalmic lens in said mold cavity, and a thermoplastic film retained on said body portion such that said thermoplastic film covers said backing surface of said body portion, said thermoplastic film having a molding surface which partially defines said mold cavity and which gives a corresponding one of opposite surfaces of said ophthalmic lens, said thermoplastic film having been softened by heating and placed between said first and second molds, followed by effecting a press-forming operation on said thermoplastic film, whereby said thermoplastic film is retained in close contact with said backing surface, so that said thermoplastic film cooperates with said body portion to provide said coated mold.