An insertion system is provided for delivering an intraocular lens into an eye. The insertion system has an inserter for delivering the lens and a lens case for holding the lens prior to delivery. The inserter has a handpiece having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The inserter also has a nosepiece disposed at the distal end of the inserter, the nosepiece having a rotational axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a load chamber with a transfer interface for receiving the lens. The case has a transfer port for transferring the lens from the case into the load chamber. Once the lens is transferred into the load chamber, the nosepiece is adapted to rotate approximately 180 degrees about the rotational axis between a first position for loading the lens and a second position for delivering the lens into the eye.