A surgical device for cutting a lens within a capsular bag of an eye, the device comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a lumen defined therethrough, the lumen having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and an opening from the lumen at the distal end; a sectioning element having a first leg and a second leg, the sectioning element movable relative to the shaft from a first, insertion configuration toward a second, capture configuration in which a larger portion of the sectioning element extends out of the opening of the lumen, wherein at least a portion of the sectioning element is positioned within the lumen when the sectioning element is in the first, insertion configuration, and wherein both the sectioning element in the first, insertion configuration and the distal end of the shaft are sized for insertion into an anterior chamber of the eye through an incision and for placement above an anterior surface of the lens within the capsular bag; wherein the second, capture configuration comprises an approximately closed loop formed entirely by the sectioning element, the approximately closed loop comprising an open area, a first portion of the open area being distal to the opening and a second portion of the open area being proximal to the opening, and wherein the second, capture configuration of the sectioning element is sized and shaped to permit advancement of the sectioning element between the capsular bag and the lens while the lens remains in the capsular bag to capture a portion of the lens within the open area; and an actuator operatively coupled to the sectioning element, the actuator configured to tension the sectioning element to reduce the open area and cut the lens. a shaft having a distal end and a lumen defined therethrough, the lumen having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and an opening from the lumen at the distal end; a sectioning element having a first leg and a second leg, the sectioning element movable relative to the shaft from a first, insertion configuration toward a second, capture configuration in which a larger portion of the sectioning element extends out of the opening of the lumen, wherein at least a portion of the sectioning element is positioned within the lumen when the sectioning element is in the first, insertion configuration, and wherein both the sectioning element in the first, insertion configuration and the distal end of the shaft are sized for insertion into an anterior chamber of the eye through an incision and for placement above an anterior surface of the lens within the capsular bag; wherein the second, capture configuration comprises an approximately closed loop formed entirely by the sectioning element, the approximately closed loop comprising an open area, a first portion of the open area being distal to the opening and a second portion of the open area being proximal to the opening, and wherein the second, capture configuration of the sectioning element is sized and shaped to permit advancement of the sectioning element between the capsular bag and the lens while the lens remains in the capsular bag to capture a portion of the lens within the open area; and an actuator operatively coupled to the sectioning element, the actuator configured to tension the sectioning element to reduce the open area and cut the lens.