The surface composition of hydrogel contact lenses that contain silicon-based monomers, PureVision(TM) (balafilcon A) and Focus(R) NightDay(TM) (lotrafilcon A), were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Conventional and daily disposable hydrogel lenses based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were also studied, with the commonly prescribed 1-day Acuvue(R) lens (etafilcon A) used as a control. All the lenses were pre-washed and dehydrated by three different methods, including drying in air, drying in nitrogen or freezing with subsequent freeze-drying, before the XPS analysis. The lenses dried in air had more impurities on the surface, and the lenses that were freeze-dried lost transparency, suggesting that drying lenses in nitrogen is the preferred preparation method for XPS analysis. Surface compositions for all lens materials were obtained and this data can be used as a control/base-value for future analysis of the interactions of soft contact lens materials with chemicals such as drugs or tear components. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.