Presented is a method and a structure for protecting the corneal endothelium of the eye during the implantation procedure of an intraocular lens. The structure includes a hydrophilic material that is formed to envelop the anterior and posterior surfaces of an optic, the anterior and posterior portions of the structure being joined integrally by a connecting strap that spans a peripheral portion of the underlying or sandwiched optic to retain the covering material on the optic during the insertion process. The connecting strap may also be used to confine one of the haptics to the outer periphery of the optic during the insertion process, and may also be used as a tab to facilitate withdrawal of the protective device from the eye after implantation of the intraocular lens. The protective device shields the corneal endothelium and iris tissue from inadvertent harmful contact with the polymethylmethacrylate material from which a large proportion of intraocular lenses are fabricated.