Viscoelastic soft tip plunger

An apparatus for intraocular lens delivery, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plunger at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein:
• the plunger comprises an elongated portion and a viscoelastic soft tip at a distal end of the elongated portion,
• the viscoelastic soft tip has a storage modulus of about 1 megapascal to about 300 megapascals at 23 degrees Celsius, and
• the viscoelastic soft tip has a loss modulus of about 1 megapascal to about 300 megapascals at 23 degrees Celsius;
• a lens holder coupled to the housing;
• a pre-loaded lens in the lens holder;
• a drive mechanism operatively coupled to plunger and configured to cause the plunger to translate in the housing;
• and
• a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing through which the plunger delivers the pre-loaded lens into an eye.

An apparatus for intraocular lens delivery, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plunger at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein:
• the plunger comprises an elongated portion and a viscoelastic soft tip at a distal end of the elongated portion,
• the viscoelastic soft tip has a storage modulus of about 10 megapascals to about 50 megapascals at 23 degrees Celsius,
• the viscoelastic soft tip has a loss modulus of about 10 megapascals to about 50 megapascals at 23 degrees Celsius, and
• the viscoelastic soft tip comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of acetate, acrylate, polyester, polyamide, foams thereof, and combinations thereof;
• a pre-loaded lens in the housing;
• a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the plunger and configured to cause the plunger to translate in the housing;
• and
• a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing through which the plunger delivers the pre-loaded lens into an eye, wherein the viscoelastic soft tip provides cushioning and non-abrasive engagement with the pre-loaded lens during translation of the drive mechanism and delivery through the nozzle.