Appendix 1. CENTRAL search strategy

#1 MeSH descriptor: [Vision Screening] explode all trees
#2 MeSH descriptor: [Mass Screening] explode all trees
#3 screen*
#4 MeSH descriptor: [Preventive Health Services] explode all trees
#5 MeSH descriptor: [Health Promotion] explode all trees
#6 MeSH descriptor: [Activities of Daily Living] explode all trees
#7 MeSH descriptor: [Diagnostic Services] explode all trees
#8 MeSH descriptor: [Multiphasic Screening] explode all trees
#9 #1 or #2 or #3 or #4 or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8
#10 MeSH descriptor: [Aged] explode all trees
#11 MeSH descriptor: [Aged, 80 and over] explode all trees
#12 (geriatric* or elderly or senior)
#13 #10 or #11 or #12
#14 #9 and #13
#15 MeSH descriptor: [Geriatric Assessment] explode all trees
#16 MeSH descriptor: [Health Services for the Aged] explode all trees
#17 #15 or #16
#18 #14 or #17
#19 MeSH descriptor: [Eye Diseases] explode all trees
#20 MeSH descriptor: [Visual Acuity] explode all trees
#21 (eye* or vision or visual or macula* degeneration or cataract* or presbyopia)
#22 #19 or #20 or #21
#23 #18 and #22

Appendix 2. MEDLINE Ovid search strategy

1. randomized controlled trial.pt.
2. (randomized or randomised).ab,ti.
3. placebo.ab,ti.
4. dt.fs.
5. randomly.ab,ti.
6. trial.ab,ti.
7. groups.ab,ti.
8. or/1‐7
9. exp animals/
10. exp humans/
11. 9 not (9 and 10)
12. 8 not 11
13. exp vision screening/
14. Mass Screening/
15. multiphasic screening/
16. screen$.tw.
17. Preventive Health Services/
18. Health Promotion/
19. Activities of Daily Living/
20. Diagnostic Services/
21. or/13‐20
22. exp aged/
23. "Aged, 80 and over"/
24. (geriatric$ or elderly or senior$).tw.
25. or/22‐24
26. 21 and 25
27. Geriatric Assessment/
28. Health Services for the Aged/
29. or/27‐28
30. 26 or 29
31. exp eye diseases/
32. exp visual acuity/
33. (eye$ or vision or visual or macular degeneration or cataract$ or presbyopia).tw.
34. or/31‐33
35. 30 and 34
36. 12 and 35

The search filter for trials at the beginning of the MEDLINE strategy is from the published paper by Glanville 2006.

Appendix 3. Embase Ovid search strategy

1. exp randomized controlled trial/
2. exp randomization/
3. exp double blind procedure/
4. exp single blind procedure/
5. random$.tw.
6. or/1‐5
7. (animal or animal experiment).sh.
8. human.sh.
9. 7 and 8
10. 7 not 9
11. 6 not 10
12. exp clinical trial/
13. (clin$ adj3 trial$).tw.
14. ((singl$ or doubl$ or trebl$ or tripl$) adj3 (blind$ or mask$)).tw.
15. exp placebo/
16. placebo$.tw.
17. random$.tw.
18. exp experimental design/
19. exp crossover procedure/
20. exp control group/
21. exp latin square design/
22. or/12‐21
23. 22 not 10
24. 23 not 11
25. exp comparative study/
26. exp evaluation/
27. exp prospective study/
28. (control$ or prospectiv$ or volunteer$).tw.
29. or/25‐28
30. 29 not 10
31. 30 not (11 or 23)
32. 11 or 24 or 31
33. exp vision test/
34. mass screening/
35. screen$.tw.
36. preventive health service/
37. health promotion/
38. daily life activity/
39. or/33‐38
40. exp aged/
41. exp senescence/
42. (geriatric$ or elderly or senior$).tw.
43. or/40‐42
44. 39 and 43
45. geriatric assessment/
46. elderly care/
47. or/45‐46
48. 44 or 47
49. exp eye disease/
50. exp visual acuity/
51. (eye$ or vision or visual or macula$ degeneration or cataract$ or presbyopia).tw.
52. or/49‐51
53. 48 and 52
54. 32 and 53

Appendix 4. ISRCTN search strategy

screen AND community AND elderly

Appendix 5. ClinicalTrials.gov search strategy

screen AND community AND elderly AND (vision OR visual OR sight)

Appendix 6. WHO ICTRP search strategy

screen AND community AND elderly AND vision