Slotted tube injector for an intraocular lens

Slotted tube injector for partial insertion in a minimum size eye incision to inject into the eye a temporarily folded intraocular lens having generally opposed seating haptics extending from the lens periphery, comprising

• a longitudinal support forwardly terminating in a tube having a rearwardly facing loading end and a forwardly facing insertion end interconnected by a through bore to contain the folded lens, and a slot extending from the loading end to the insertion end and communicating the bore with the exterior of the tube to permit the haptics to protrude to the exterior from the folded lens in the bore, the insertion end being insertable in the incision, and
• holding and locking means arranged on the support for movement relative to the tube for loading and locking the lens in unfolded state thereon at the loading end, for moving the lens into the loading end for controlled folding of the lens into the bore and locating of the haptics in the slot so as to protrude to the exterior, and upon inserting the insertion end in the incision with the haptics passing through the incision protruding from the tube, for moving the lens out of the insertion end for controlled unfolding of the lens out of the bore and return of the lens and haptics to unfolded state thereon, and for unlocking the unfolded lens for controlled release therefrom in the eye.