A nonionic, high-water-content, high-strength hydrogel based on N-vinyl pyrrolidinone (NVP) and a novel hydrophilic-bulky monomer, 4-t-butyl-2-hydroxycyclohexylmethacrylate (TBCM), was developed. The TBCM was prepared in three relatively simple, high-yield steps. The copolymerization of NVP with varying concentrations of TBCM resulted in transparent hydrogel films possessing a wide range in mechanical and physical properties. A copolymer composition of 91.7 parts NVP, 8.0 parts TBCM, and 0.3 parts ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) gave a transparent, flexible film possessing a water content of 86%, a modulus of 130 g/mm2, and a tear strength of 3.4 g/mm. In contrast, a copolymer composition of 49.7 parts NVP, 50 parts TBCM, and 0.3 parts EGDMA gave a transparent, hard hydrogel film possessing a water content of 26% and a modulus of 86,000 g/mm2. All of the high-water copolymer compositions developed resulted in lysozyme uptake typical of nonionic high-water-content hydrogels and oxygen permeability levels greater than 50 (cm3-O2(STP).cm)/(s.cm2.mm Hg) x 10(-11).