594436 Disclosed is an intraocular lens injector cartridge assembly (10) configured for removably mating with an injector handpiece. The cartridge assembly (10) has a tubular body (11) having a longitudinal bore (18) extending between a distal end (15) and a proximal end (16). An intraocular lens (20) is disposed within the longitudinal bore (18). A lens-contacting plunger rod (30) is retained substantially within the bore (18), between the intraocular lens (20) and the proximal end (16) of the tubular body (11), and configured for translation along the longitudinal bore (18) upon engagement by an injector rod (40) introduced by the injector handpiece into the proximal end (16) of the tubular body (11), so that the intraocular lens (20) is folded and ejected from the distal end (15) of the tubular body (11) by the translation of the lens-contacting plunger rod (30). A plunger guide (35) is disposed within the longitudinal bore (18), the plunger guide (35) surrounding a circumference of the plunger rod (30). The plunger rod (30) comprises an enlarged distal portion, and the plunger guide (35) defines a passage, wherein a size of the enlarged distal portion of the plunger rod (30) is larger than a size of the passage, and the enlarged distal portion is disposed distally of the passage such that the plunger rod (30) is retained within the longitudinal bore (30).
