In some embodiments, a method of making a polycarbonate composition comprises: polymerizing by an interfacial polymerization, reactants comprising a starting material comprising a bisphenol-A to form a bisphenol-A polycarbonate, wherein the bisphenol-A has a purity of greater than or equal to 99.65 wt % and a sulfur content of less than or equal to 2 ppm. The polycarbonate composition has a free hydroxyl content of less than or equal to 150 ppm, and wherein a molded article of the polycarbonate composition has transmission level greater than or equal to 90.0% at 2.5 mm thickness as measured by ASTM D1003-00 and a yellow index (YI) less than or equal to 1.5 as measured by ASTM D1925.