Materials such as hydrogels have a long history of use in the eye. The need for ophthalmic coatings arises because desired surface properties, such as low fouling and lack of bacterial adhesion, are often inconsistent with the properties necessary in the bulk materials. Commercially, a host of different modifications are used to generate the desired surface characteristics. Contact lens materials have been modified with internal wetting agents or with plasma coatings. Intraocular lenses are often modified to improve implantability and outcomes. Furthermore, while there is much research on ‘typical’ modifications, novel modifications to alleviate such problems as endophthalmitis and posterior capsule opacification show promise in the lab and may ultimately lead to better and longer lasting materials. Such modifications may also prove useful in the development of ophthalmic devices for other applications.