A flexible pupil expansion ring having a U-shaped groove formed along an external diameter of the ring to substantially fully engage and support an iris of a patient's eye, at least one positioning plate extending from a leg of the U-shaped groove, and having an opening within the plate to assist with positioning of the ring with the iris engaged within the groove, and an expansion mechanism for moving the flexible ring from an engagement position to an expansion position enlarging the diameter of the groove and engaged iris.
