Nonpenetrating trabeculectomy was performed on 28 aphakic eyes consisting of 18 with chronic open-angle glaucoma and 10 with secondary and/or complicated glaucoma. The canal of Schlemm and the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork were excised for a length of 4 mm beneath a 6 mm x 6 mm scleral flap. At one year postoperatively, 72.0% of all patients were controlled, 24% required no antiglaucoma medications. However, 88% of chronic simple glaucoma patients were satisfactorily controlled. The mean follow-up period was 1.4 years. Minimal complications have been encountered to date. Nonpenetrating trabeculectomy may be valuable as an initial procedure in aphakic patients who require glaucoma filtration surgery.