Appendix 1. CENTRAL search strategy

#1 MeSH descriptor: [Vitreous Body] this term only
#2 vitreous near/2 (degenerat* or floater*)
#3 vitreous near/2 (body or bodies or humor*)
#4 floaters
#5 #1 or #2 or #3 or #4
#6 MeSH descriptor: [Laser Therapy] this term only
#7 MeSH descriptor: [Lasers, Solid‐State] this term only
#8 vitreolysis
#9 YAG
#10 #6 or #7 or #8 or #9
#11 MeSH descriptor: [Vitrectomy] this term only
#12 PPV*
#13 vitrectom*
#14 #11 or #12 or #13
#15 #5 and #10 and #14

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. Vitreous Body/
14. (vitreous adj2 (degenerat$ or floater$)).tw.
15. (vitreous adj2 (body or bodies or humor$)).tw.
16. floaters.tw.
17. or/13‐16
18. Laser Therapy/
19. Lasers, Solid‐State/
20. vitreolysis.tw.
21. YAG.tw.
22. or/18‐21
23. vitrectomy/
24. PPV$.tw.
25. vitrectom$.tw.
26. or/23‐25
27. 17 and 22 and 26
28. 12 and 27

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$).tw.
29. or/25‐28
30. 29 not 10
31. 30 not (11 or 23)
32. 11 or 24 or 31
33. Vitreous Floaters/
34. Vitreous Body/
35. Vitreous Opacity/
36. (vitreous adj2 (degenerat$ or floater$)).tw.
37. (vitreous adj2 (body or bodies or humor$)).tw.
38. floaters.tw.
39. or/34‐37
40. Laser Surgery/
41. Neodymium Yag Laser/
42. vitreolysis.tw.
43. YAG.tw.
44. or/40‐43
45. vitrectomy/
46. PPV$.tw.
47. vitrectom$.tw.
48. or/45‐47
49. 39 and 44 and 48
50. 32 and 49

Appendix 4. LILACS search strategy

Vitreous degeneration OR floaters and Laser OR YAG OR Vitrectomy OR PPV

Appendix 5. ISRCTN search strategy

(vitreous degeneration) OR floaters

Appendix 6. ClinicalTrials.gov search strategy

(Vitreous Degeneration OR Floaters) AND (Laser OR YAG) AND (Vitrectomy OR PPV)

Appendix 7. WHO ICTRP search strategy

(Vitreous Degeneration OR Floaters) = Condition AND (Laser OR YAG OR Vitrectomy OR PPV) = Intervention