An IOL injection device comprises a tubular housing with a plunger longitudinally disposed within the tubular housing. The device is configured so that when the plunger is translated towards the front of the device, its tip engages an intraocular lens insertion cartridge mounted at or near the front end of the housing. The IOL injection device further comprises a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to perform the steps of advancing the plunger to a critical point at which an axial compressive force on the lens suddenly increases, retracting the plunger from the critical point to a sufficient distance for material of the intraocular lens to relax, pausing to allow the material of the intraocular lens to relax, advancing the plunger to the critical point a second time, and continuing to advance the plunger beyond the critical point to implant the intraocular lens.
