Objective To evaluate the effects of intraocular lenses (IOL) of silicone and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) on posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to 2003), EMBASE (1980 to 2003), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 1, 2003) and CBMdisc (1979 to 2003). Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included trial and extracted data. The following outcomes were assessed: PCO index, percentage of neodymium: YAG (Nd: YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy and visual acuity after cataract surgery. RevMan 4.2 was used for meta-analysis.Results Nine RCTs including 672 eyes were included. In patients with senile cataract, the results of meta-analysis suggested that silicone lens were better than PMMA lens on PCO index (the pooled SMD=－0.92, 95%CI －1.19 to －0.64) and percentage of Nd: YAG (the pooled OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.22 to 0.57) with a statistically significant difference, but there was no significant difference on visual acuity (the pooled OR 1.22, 95%CI 0.43 to 3.50) after cataract surgery between silicone lens and PMMA lens. However, in patients with uveitic cataract, the results of meta-analysis showed that PMMA lens were better than silicone lens in visual acuity (the pooled OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.91) after cataract surgery with a statistically significant difference, but there was no significant difference on PCO index (SMD 0.23, 95%CI －0.59 to 1.05) and percentage of Nd: YAG (the pooled OR 1.82, 95%CI 0.47 to 6.95) between silicone lens and PMMA lens. Conclusions Current evidence indicates that silicone lens are superior to PMMA lens in reducing PCO. Further trials with high quality on methodology are required.