A method for applying a surface pattern on a surface of a spectacle lens substrate includes the following steps: providing a spectacle lens substrate having a polymeric lens material, providing a composition containing a swelling agent, applying a pattern of the composition on the surface of the spectacle lens substrate, and allowing for diffusion of the swelling agent from the composition into the lens material. Moreover, a spectacle lens substrate has a polymeric lens material and exhibits a surface pattern on a surface of the spectacle lens substrate. The polymeric lens material includes a swelling agent at positions forming the surface pattern, and a spectacle lens substrate contains a polymeric lens material, wherein the spectacle lens substrate exhibits a pattern of a composition containing a swelling agent applied on a surface of the spectacle lens substrate.