Apparatus for removal of flash from a contact lens male mold member following manufacture of an unfinished polymerized contact lens body in a mold assembly, the contact lens male mold member comprising a mold surface for carrying an unfinished polymerized contact lens body and a peripheral surface , the apparatus comprising: a support for supporting the male mold member during de-flashing; a de-flashing element for separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member , the de-flashing element comprising a cutting edge ; an axial driver arranged to bring together the de-flashing element and the male mold member supported on the support such that at least a portion of the cutting edge is in a position proximal to the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; a rotary driver arranged to rotate the de-flashing element and/or the male mold member supported on the support relative to each other when at least a portion of the cutting edge is proximal to the peripheral surface of the male mold member , thereby separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; and the contact lens male mold member in contact with the support, wherein the male mold member comprises a cylindrical base region and a lens surface-forming region, wherein the cylindrical base region comprises said peripheral surface and the lens surface-forming region comprises said mold surface for carrying the unfinished polymerized contact lens body ; wherein the de-flashing element is sized and configured to at least partially surround the cylindrical base region of the male mold member and the rotary driver is arranged to rotate the cutting edge around an outer circumference of the cylindrical base region thereby separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; and wherein the de-flashing element comprises a tube including said cutting edge , the cutting edge being defined by a notch in said tube . a support for supporting the male mold member during de-flashing; a de-flashing element for separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member , the de-flashing element comprising a cutting edge ; an axial driver arranged to bring together the de-flashing element and the male mold member supported on the support such that at least a portion of the cutting edge is in a position proximal to the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; a rotary driver arranged to rotate the de-flashing element and/or the male mold member supported on the support relative to each other when at least a portion of the cutting edge is proximal to the peripheral surface of the male mold member , thereby separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; and the contact lens male mold member in contact with the support, wherein the male mold member comprises a cylindrical base region and a lens surface-forming region, wherein the cylindrical base region comprises said peripheral surface and the lens surface-forming region comprises said mold surface for carrying the unfinished polymerized contact lens body ; wherein the de-flashing element is sized and configured to at least partially surround the cylindrical base region of the male mold member and the rotary driver is arranged to rotate the cutting edge around an outer circumference of the cylindrical base region thereby separating flash from the peripheral surface of the male mold member ; and wherein the de-flashing element comprises a tube including said cutting edge , the cutting edge being defined by a notch in said tube . <EOS>