Patent ID: 8038912

Claim:
A method for releasing a compliant hydrogel molded lens from a concave mold surface of a deformable mold comprising locating a circular shear ring against an anterior surface of the concave mold at a location radially spaced from and surrounding the optical surface portion of the mold, contacting a posterior surface of the concave mold with a plunger having a raised annular lip on an end surface of the plunger, moving the shear ring and the plunger one towards the other and each pressing against the mold thereby deforming the mold in a manner that creates a shear force between the concave surface and the molded lens sufficient to effect the peeling of the molded lens from the concave mold surface wherein the peeling starts at an outer periphery of the molded lens and propagates to a center of the molded lens.