We followed up 36 eyes of 34 patients for the first three months after trabeculectomy, paying special attention to the depth of the anterior chamber. A significant difference in postoperative course was noted between those eyes with central cornea-lens touch and those with cornea-iris touch but not contact between cornea and lens. The former group (four eyes) had a high rate of complications, including corneal edema, cataract, and bleb failure, despite early efforts to reform the anterior chamber. The latter group (18 eyes), in which the anterior chambers were all allowed to reform spontaneously, had a favorable course, similar to those eyes that maintained formed anterior chambers throughout the study.