The present invention general related to a method and a reusable mold for making a contact lens, comprising a first mold half having a first mold surface in contact with a silicone containing lens forming composition and a second mold half having a second mold surface in contact with the lens forming composition. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to receive each other such that a cavity is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface. The cavity defines the shape of a contact lens to be molded. The lens forming composition is polymerizable and/or crosslinkable by actinic radiation. The reusable mold has at least one of the mold halves is made from chalcogenide glasses, Zinc Selenide or Zinc Sulfide.