An injector (1) for folding and injecting into the eye of a patient a flexible intraocular lens, the injector comprising an assembly of an injection nozzle (202), a lens compartment that holds an unfolded flexible intraocular lens (400) and is in communication with the injection nozzle, an injector body (3) communicating with the lens compartment and a plunger (2) that is inserted in the free end of the injector body, wherein lens compartment and injector body comprise a mechanism whereby the lens is first folded by forces compressing the lens in a non-axial direction in response to an axial movement of the plunger over a first distance and is subsequently expelled from the injector through the injection nozzle in response to an axial movement of the plunger over a second distance.
