Apparatus and methods, and uses of apparatus, for preventing prolapse of iris tissue, through a surgical opening in the eye during eye surgery. Early in the surgery, one or more surgical openings are made in the eye, and a flexible biocompatible iris shield is inserted, through a such opening, into the anterior chamber and placed in a position whereby the iris shield overlies the iris anteriorly, adjacent each surgical opening and is positioned between the iris and any surgical openings. If/when the pressure inside the anterior chamber increases during surgery, any anterior movement of the iris toward the cornea or sclera in response to such pressure, moves the iris shield in an anterior direction, such that the iris shield remains between the iris and the surgical opening. Thus, the iris shield blocks the surgical opening and prevents movement of eye material, e.g. iris tissue, to and through the surgical opening.
