A process for manufacturing a silicone hydrogel contact lens, comprising the steps of - providing a mold assembly comprising a first mold half having a first molding surface and a second mold half having a second molding surface in an open position; - dosing a silicon hydrogel contact lens forming material into the first mold half while the mold assembly is in the open position; - closing the first and second mold halves to form a mold cavity defining the shape of the silicone hydrogel contact lens; - curing the silicone hydrogel contact lens forming material in the mold cavity; - opening the first and a second mold halves (101, 102); - removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from the first or second mold half (101, 102); wherein (i) the step of closing the first and second mold halves comprises moving the first and second mold halves to an intermediate closed position, wherein the first and second molding surfaces (105, 106) of the first and second mold halves (101, 102) are arranged at a distance increase relative to a final distance in a final closed position; and (ii) during curing of the silicone hydrogel contact lens forming material moving the mold halves (101, 102) to the final closed position, characterized in that the step of closing the first and second mold half comprises (a) moving the first and second mold halves to the final closed position, where the distance increase is 0; (b) re-opening the mold halves to the intermediate closed position. - providing a mold assembly comprising a first mold half having a first molding surface and a second mold half having a second molding surface in an open position; - dosing a silicon hydrogel contact lens forming material into the first mold half while the mold assembly is in the open position; - closing the first and second mold halves to form a mold cavity defining the shape of the silicone hydrogel contact lens; - curing the silicone hydrogel contact lens forming material in the mold cavity; - opening the first and a second mold halves (101, 102); - removing the silicone hydrogel contact lens from the first or second mold half (101, 102); wherein (i) the step of closing the first and second mold halves comprises moving the first and second mold halves to an intermediate closed position, wherein the first and second molding surfaces (105, 106) of the first and second mold halves (101, 102) are arranged at a distance increase relative to a final distance in a final closed position; and (ii) during curing of the silicone hydrogel contact lens forming material moving the mold halves (101, 102) to the final closed position, (i) the step of closing the first and second mold halves comprises moving the first and second mold halves to an intermediate closed position, wherein the first and second molding surfaces (105, 106) of the first and second mold halves (101, 102) are arranged at a distance increase relative to a final distance in a final closed position; and (ii) during curing of the silicone hydrogel contact lens forming material moving the mold halves (101, 102) to the final closed position, (a) moving the first and second mold halves to the final closed position, where the distance increase is 0; (b) re-opening the mold halves to the intermediate closed position.