Pad transfer printing method for making colored contact lenses

A transfer-printing method for making a colored hydrogel contact lens, comprising the steps of:

• (a) inking, with a water-based ink, at least one cliché having an image to be printed on a contact lens to form an inked image in the cliché;
• (b) transferring the inked image from the cliché to at least one surface of at least one contact lens forming mold by means of at least one transfer pad, wherein the relative air humidity in the immediate vicinities of the transfer pad is kept higher than 50% at temperature conditions within a range of from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius during ink transfer;
• (c) at least partially curing the inked image transferred on the mold surface to form a colored film;
• (d) dispensing a hydrogel lens-forming material into at least one lens-forming cavity of the mold;
• and
• (e) curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored film detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens.