A method for producing embedded hydrogel contact lenses comprises at least the following steps: obtaining an insert made of a crosslinked polymeric material comprising repeating units of a free-radical photoinitiator; placing the insert in a female lens mold half; dosing an amount of a lens-forming composition to immerse the insert in the female lens mold half; closing tightly a male lens mold half onto the top of the female lens mold half halves to form a molding assembly; actinically curing both the lens-forming composition in the molding assembly to form an embedded hydrogel lens precursor which comprises a bulk hydrogel material formed the lens-forming composition and the insert that is embedded therein and covalently linked to the bulk hydrogel material.