A device comprising: a first transparent conductive layer and a second transparent conductive layer; at least one electro-chromic layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer; and a solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer and in contact with the at least one electro-chromic layer; wherein the first transparent conductive layer, the at least one electro-chromic layer, the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer and the second transparent conductive layer are disposed on a lens blank or a semi-finished lens blank; wherein the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer is selected from the group consisting of: a conductive transparent adhesive, an optically-transparent photo-cured electrolyte, and an optically transparent thermally-cured electrolyte; wherein the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer is a composite polymer network or polymer blend for providing sufficient mechanical strength to survive edging of the lens blank or semi-finished lens blank, the composite polymer network or polymer blend comprising at least three major components, each major component being present in a concentration greater than or equal to 10 wt%; further wherein the composite polymer network or polymer blend includes at least two maj or components selected from the group consisting of: polymethacrylate, polyvinilidene difluoride (PVDF), polyurethane (PU), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyaniline (PANI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), succinonitrile (SN), acrylate polymers, and methacrylate polymers. a first transparent conductive layer and a second transparent conductive layer; at least one electro-chromic layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer; and a solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer and in contact with the at least one electro-chromic layer; wherein the first transparent conductive layer, the at least one electro-chromic layer, the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer and the second transparent conductive layer are disposed on a lens blank or a semi-finished lens blank; wherein the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer is selected from the group consisting of: a conductive transparent adhesive, an optically-transparent photo-cured electrolyte, and an optically transparent thermally-cured electrolyte; wherein the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte layer is a composite polymer network or polymer blend for providing sufficient mechanical strength to survive edging of the lens blank or semi-finished lens blank, the composite polymer network or polymer blend comprising at least three major components, each major component being present in a concentration greater than or equal to 10 wt%; further wherein the composite polymer network or polymer blend includes at least two maj or components selected from the group consisting of: polymethacrylate, polyvinilidene difluoride (PVDF), polyurethane (PU), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyaniline (PANI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), succinonitrile (SN), acrylate polymers, and methacrylate polymers. <EOS>