Ocular protection ring

A device for reducing the incidence of surgical debris migration within a mammalian eye, the device comprising:

• an anterior portion, said anterior portion comprising an anterior inner surface and an opposing anterior outer surface, said anterior inner surface and said anterior outer surface terminating at an anterior edge, said anterior edge defining an open anterior end;
• a posterior portion, said posterior portion comprising a posterior inner surface and an opposing posterior outer surface, said posterior inner surface and said posterior outer surface terminating at a posterior edge, said posterior edge defining an open posterior end;
• a waist connecting said anterior portion and said posterior portion, said waist comprising an waist inner surface and an opposing waist outer surface;
• an aperture extending from said open anterior end, through said waist, and to said open posterior end, said aperture incompletely bounded by said anterior inner surface, said waist inner surface, and said posterior inner surface;
• and
• a gap, said gap dividing said anterior portion, said posterior portion, and said waist.

A method of performing cataract surgery on a mammalian eye, said mammalian eye comprising a pupil, a cornea, a lens capsule, an anterior chamber, and a cataract, said method comprising:

• dilating said pupil;
• opening said mammalian eye;
• creating an incision in said cornea;
• opening said lens capsule;
• loosening said cataract in said lens capsule;
• inserting a device into said mammalian eye, the device comprising:
• an anterior portion, said anterior portion comprising an anterior inner surface and an opposing anterior outer surface, said anterior inner surface and said anterior outer surface terminating at an anterior edge, said anterior edge defining an open anterior end,
• a posterior portion, said posterior portion comprising a posterior inner surface and an opposing posterior outer surface, said posterior inner surface and said posterior outer surface terminating at a posterior edge, said posterior edge defining an open posterior end,
• a waist connecting said anterior portion and said posterior portion, said waist comprising a waist inner surface and an opposing waist outer surface, and
• an aperture extending from said open anterior end, through said waist, and to said open posterior end, said aperture bounded by said anterior inner surface, said waist inner surface, and said posterior inner surface;
• breaking said cataract into small pieces of debris;
• removing said small pieces of debris;
• removing said device;
• and
• inserting a replacement lens.