An ophthalmic surgical instrument for fragmenting the lens nucleus of an eye, and method of use thereof. The instrument includes an elongated handle portion, a tubular head portion at the handle portion distal end, at least three prongs with cutting tips, and a holding ring. The prongs are selectively retractable into and deployable from the head portion. The holding ring selectively contracts and expands to adjust the deployment width of the prongs. The instrument is inserted toward the eye lens through a corneal incision, while the head portion is opened to deploy the prongs to slide over and grasp onto the lens nucleus at a posterior position thereof. The instrument is then withdrawn toward the eye lens anterior while the head portion is closed to retract the prongs, such that the prong cutting tips cut along the lens nucleus, so as to fragment the lens nucleus into multiple segments.
