An iris retractor (10, 30, 50, 150, 170, 190, 200) including a plurality of hooks (12, 32, 52, 152, 172, 192, 202) disposed or formed at a distal end of slender elements (14, 34, 54, 154, 174, 194, 204), and a proximal handle (20, 40, 60, 176, 196, 206) at a proximal end of the slender elements (14, 34, 54, 154, 174, 194, 204), the slender elements (14, 34, 54, 154, 174, 194, 204) resiliently moving between retracted and expanded positions by manipulation of the slender elements, wherein in the retracted position, the hooks (12, 32, 52, 152, 172, 192, 202) are close to one another and the slender elements (14, 34, 54, 154, 174, 194, 204) are close to one another, and wherein in the expanded position, the hooks are separate and spaced apart from each other and distal portions of the slender elements are separate and spaced apart from each other.
