The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for making lenses and a composition of molding material which can be utilized in the method and apparatus for molding lenses of optical quality. A monomer is used with initiators in conjunction with the molding apparatus to mold plastic lenses of optical quality without requirement for any additional polishing or grinding, except for perhaps shaping the edges. The molding material includes a composition of liquid monomer with a thermal initiator and a UV initiator each of which can be activated during the molding process. Initially, the molding forms with the liquid monomer compositions therein are heated to activate the thermal initiator and form the molding material into a gel. The gelled material is then subjected to a UV light source for completing the cure. Prepolymerized molding material can be used in some instances to avoid an intermediate step of thermal curing. Various other embodiments and apparatus are disclosed for molding plastic lens.