Appendix 1. CENTRAL search strategy

#1 MeSH descriptor Cataract
#2 MeSH descriptor Cataract Extraction
#3 cataract*
#4 (#1 OR #2 OR #3)
#5 MeSH descriptor Glaucoma
#6 glaucoma*
#7 (#5 OR #6)
#8 MeSH descriptor Trabeculectomy
#9 trabeculectom*
#10 MeSH descriptor Phacoemulsification
#11 pha?oemulsif*
#12 pha?otrabeculectom*
#13 (one or two) near/2 site*
#14 MeSH descriptor Filtering Surgery
#15 (#8 OR #9 OR #10 OR #11 OR #12 OR #13 OR #14)
#16 (#4 AND #7 AND #15)

Appendix 2. MEDLINE 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 cataract/
14. exp cataract extraction/
15. cataract$.tw.
16. or/13‐15
17. exp glaucoma/
18. glaucoma$.tw.
19. or/17‐18
20. exp filtering surgery/
21. exp trabeculectomy/
22. trabeculectom$.tw.
23. exp phacoemulsification/
24. pha?oemulsif$.tw.
25. pha?otrabeculectom$.tw.
26. ((one or two) adj2 site$).tw.
27. or/20‐26
28. 16 and 19 and 27
29. 12 and 28

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

Appendix 3. EMBASE 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$).tw.
29. or/25‐28
30. 29 not 10
31. 30 not (11 or 23)
32. 11 or 24 or 31
33. exp cataract/
34. exp cataract extraction/
35. cataract$.tw.
36. or/33‐35
37. exp glaucoma/
38. glaucoma$.tw.
39. or/37‐38
40. exp filtering operation/
41. exp trabeculectomy/
42. trabeculectom$.tw.
43. exp phacoemulsification/
44. pha?oemulsif$.tw.
45. pha?otrabeculectom$.tw.
46. ((one or two) adj2 site$).tw.
47. or/40‐46
48. 36 and 39 and 47
49. 32 and 48

Appendix 4. LILACS search strategy

cataract$ and glaucoma$ and trabeculectom$ or phaco$ or phako$ or filter$

Appendix 5. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry search strategy

The following search will be run on the advanced search facility.

Condition code: Diseases/disorders of the eye
Intervention code: Treatment: surgery
Allocation to intervention: Randomised controlled trial

Appendix 6. metaRegister of Controlled Trials search strategy

(filter% or trabec% or phaco% or phako%) AND cataract% AND glaucoma%