Patent ID: 8657876

Claim:
A method for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) into an eye utilizing an apparatus comprising: a load chamber for receiving an IOL and including a hollow passage with an ejection port through which the IOL is passable; and a handpiece including: a body member disposed about a longitudinal axis; an injector rod that is receivable by the body member and that is longitudinally movable within the hollow passage, the injector rod having a distal end adapted to contact the IOL when positioned within body member; and a drive mechanism disposed about a longitudinal axis coupled to the injector rod comprising: a drive member; a guide; and a follower coupled to the guide, the method comprising: causing the injector rod to move back and forth discretely a plurality of times in distal increments and proximal increments, wherein the injector rod advances toward an ejection port along a path that longitudinally moves the injector rod back and forth in the body member a plurality of times when a rotational force is applied about the longitudinal axis in a single direction, and wherein the drive mechanism oscillates the injector rod longitudinally in increments that are greater in the distal direction than in the proximal direction.