Systems and methods of manufacturing ophthalmic lenses, for example, soft,
extended wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses, are provided. The systems generally include a housing having an illuminated chamber, a carrier, for example a tray, movable in the illuminated chamber from an inlet portion to an outlet portion of the housing, and the tray configured to carry a plurality of
contact lens molds. Polymerizing
light energy is provided, for example, by multiple fluorescent lamps, to the molds at an intensity effective to at least initiate
polymerization of a
monomer composition located in each of the molds. The light may be illuminated onto two opposing sides of each mold. In some cases, the intensity of the light provided to one side of the mold may be different to the
light intensity provided to the opposing side of the mold. In addition, the
system may include features that are effective to provide for an instantaneous start and an instantaneous end to the
light induced cure of the
monomer in the molds. The
system may include DALI protocol based technology for controlling the fluorescent lamps.