An intraocular lens comprising a polymer that is prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a monomer of formula G-D-Ar (I) wherein Ar is a C.sub.6-C.sub.24 aromatic group having a hydrophilic substituent, D is a divalent linking group, and G is a reactive functional group selected from the group consisting of acryloyl, acryloyloxy, methacryloyl, methacryloyloxy and mercapto. The polymer has an equilibrium water content of greater than 4.5 percent by weight.