The outflow facility of the glaucomatous eye can be significantly enhanced by opening Schlemm's canal to the anterior chamber. Surgical options for this approach include mechanical procedures, laser surgery, microbipolar cauterization and intracanalicular microstents. Especially in the area of combined cataract-glaucoma surgery these procedures are valuable options owing to their limited intraoperative and postoperative risk profiles. However, trabeculectomy with mitomycin C must still be regarded as the superior surgical option for glaucoma, which requires a low target pressure if combined surgery is unnecessary.