Abstract: The apparatus comprises a loop and a tail, where the loop has a large opening and a small opening. The loop is adapted to retain the lens in a folded position while the lens is grasped with a forceps and inserted into the eye through an incision in the eye. The tail is adapted to be pulled to release the lens from the loop. The lens is folded and inserted into the loop using a disk having a U-shaped protrusion at an edge of the disk, a recess on a surface of the disk, and a groove running across the recess and aligned with the protrusion. The lens is folded by forcing it into the groove and sliding the folded lens into the protrusion, over which the loop is placed. The folded lens and the loop are pulled off the protrusion together leaving the lens held in the folded state within the loop ready for insertion into the eye.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a foldable intraocular lens into an eye. The lens is grasped and inserted through an incision in the eye with a forceps, while the lens is held in a folded state within the loop of the apparatus. After positioning the lens within the eye, the tail of the apparatus, which extends outside the eye through the incision, is pulled to slide the loop off the lens, thereby allowing the lens to unfold. The invention is also a method and apparatus for folding the lens and placing the folded lens within the loop of the apparatus for insertion into the eye.