an intraocular implant for use in a surgical procedure such as a cataract operation , or in a refractive - lens exchange surgery procedure , has a main portion and a peripheral portion peripheral to the main portion . the main portion is plate - like in shape and may be a lens or a plug for closing an aperture in the capsule of the eye . the implant has two or more lugs extending from the peripheral portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the main portion . the lugs extend either from haptics , which protrude from the main portion , or from a short extension of the edge of the main portion . a method for fixing the implant into the eye involves making two or more voids in the capsule wall , offering up the implant to the capsule , so that the lugs lie adjacent to the voids , and inserting the lugs into the voids .