A tintable abrasion-resistant coating is formed on a substrate such as a lens or other optical article by applying a radiation-curable coating to the surface of the substrate and partially curing the applied coating by exposure to radiation so as to produce from about 20% to about 80% cross-linking in the coating. The exposure to radiation is terminated when the coating is partially cured to provide a coated article which is tintable but capable of being handled for shipping to a retail finisher or the like for tinting and then completion of the cure by exposure to radiation. Preferably, a radiation-curable coating comprising a triacrylate or tetracrylate monomer and a monomer containing an N-vinyl imido group is applied to a substrate comprising polycarbonate, polyallyldiglycolcarbonate, or acrylic polymer.