Methacryloxyethyl vinyl carbonate, a novel crosslinker containing a vinyl carbonate and a methacrylate group which is capable of copolymerizing N-vinyl pyrrolidone and methacrylates, was prepared. With this crosslinker, N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) and methacrylates can copolymerize efficiently under strictly UV conditions. It was found that this crosslinker was able to give hydrogels with higher water content, higher tear strength, and lower modulus, compared to a traditional dimethacrylate crosslinker. In addition, hydrogel lenses fabricated by UV curing of formulations using this crosslinker were found to be superior to those fabricated with established process in terms of optical quality.