The invention provides a class of high RI polysiloxane vinylic crosslinkers. Each of the polysiloxane vinylic crosslinkers of the invention comprise (1) a polysiloxane segment comprising dimethylsiloxane units and aryl-containing siloxane units each having one methyl substituent and one organic substituent having up to 45 carbon atoms and at least one aryl moiety which is linked to Si atom through a linker having at least 2 (preferably 3) carbon atoms; (2) ethylenically-unsaturated groups. The invention also provides an insert or silicone hydrogel contact lens which comprises a crosslinked polymeric material comprising repeating units of at least one of such a class of high RI polysiloxane vinylic crosslinkers.