Interpenetrating photopolymer network materials suitable for intraocular lens application are presented. A rapidly curable, transparent, hydrophobic material with appropriate optical and thermomechanical properties has been prepared from Benzyl acrylate and Benzyl methacrylate. To improve its biocompatibility and optimize surface-cell interactions, this material was modified with respect to its hydrophobicity. Materials which are more hydrophobic, and more hydrophilic, than the base resin were prepared by copolymerization with either a fluoroacrylate or a PEG acrylate respectively. All materials were characterized for their optical and thermomechanical properties. Their in-vitro cytotoxicity and interaction with mouse fibroblast cells were also studied. It was shown that all materials of the study were biocompatible and more hydrophilic materials resisted cell attachment and may be more suitable for IOL application than their more hydrophobic counter parts of the study. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44496.