The authors designed an intraocular needleholder to grasp the needle of 8-0 or 9-0 sutures during transvitreal procedures to suture the edge of certain giant retinal tears to the eyewall. The instrument uses a guillotine action and has a barrel handle design. There is 135 degrees of angulation between the jaws and the long axis of the instrument. With this device the needle is firmly grasped, and a locking mechanism permits release of finger pressure during intraocular manipulation.