An intraocular lens (IOL) injector for delivering an IOL into an eye of a patient includes an IOL load chamber and connected delivery tube, and a push rod for urging the IOL through the delivery tube and out of a distal tip thereof. The push rod is guided and biased against one side of the injector load chamber. The injector may include an inflatable pusher for urging the IOL through the delivery tube and out of a distal tip thereof. The inflatable pusher has a proximal end that may be open to an internal cavity of the injector, wherein a plunger movable in the injector cavity forces fluid such as air or saline into the pusher. A distal end of the pusher may be forked to capture a trailing end of the IOL, or may have a bulbous configuration to ensure the pusher does not pass the IOL.
