A system for easily transferring an intraocular lens (IOL) from an inserter into a patient's eye. The system includes an inserter handpiece with a holding station for receiving or storing an IOL. The IOL may be pre-loaded within the holding station during manufacture, and the inserter handpiece coupled to a delivery tube so that the entire system is ready for use by a surgeon to implant an IOL. The IOL may have an optic and leading and trailing haptics coupled to the optic, and the holding station may be capable of manipulating the haptics as desired to facilitate transfer of the IOL through the delivery tube into the eye. For instance, the holding station may fold one or both of the haptics over the optic. Preferably, the holding station maintains the haptics in their folded positions during transfer of the IOL into the delivery tube. The holding station desirably maintains the IOL in a relaxed configuration during storage. A small opening on one side may be provided to introduce a narrow tool for folding one of the haptics over the optic.