Apparatus and methods for manufacturing ophthalmic lenses by bringing together a pair of mold halves to form a closed mold assembly, are described. The method includes measuring a force applied to bring the mold halves together. The apparatus includes at least one force sensor in operative communication with a single pair of mold halves, and a controller for controlling a velocity of movement of a mold half and for determining when a measured force or average measured force is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold force.