Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 16 eyes to release vitreomacular traction. All patients had a symptomatic preoperative decrease in visual acuity, most often to 20/200. Partial detachment of the posterior vitreous surface was associated with vitreoretinal attachment remaining in the area of the macula and sometimes to the optic nerve head. The posterior vitreous traction on the macula was released by tangential traction on the posterior vitreous surface, causing it to separate from the retina. The postoperative vision was the same or improved in each case. No operative complications occurred, but progressive nuclear sclerosis developed postoperatively in five of the 15 phakic eyes.