A protector is engineered to protect corneal tissue during intraoperative procedures. The protector is a temporary passageway into and optionally through the cornea. The sleeve portion of the protector can be more rigid or less rigid depending on a procedure or surgeon preference. The sleeve is described herein in terms of two examples. The first example is a polymer fabric sleeve that expands and is secured into an incision that will then be the passage for all instruments entering the eye. It will also seal the eye from backflow of liquids and tissue out of the passageway. The second example is a relatively rigid tube with an external bladder that is expandable into the incision to secure it from movement and acts as a valved passage into the eye.
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