A method for preparing a contact lens containing an ultraviolet (UV) blocker is disclosed. The method involves (a) polymerizing a monomeric mixture comprising (i) one or more contact lens-forming comonomers, and (ii) one or more UV blockers comprising a phenolic group having a protected hydroxyl moiety and one or more ethylenically unsaturated reactive groups to obtain a polymerization product comprising the one or more UV blockers comprising a phenolic group having a protected hydroxyl moiety, and (b) deprotecting the protected hydroxyl moiety of the one or more UV blockers of the polymerization product.