The present invention provides a laser surgical system with a basic set of functionality which is remotely controllable to implement an advanced set of functionality. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a basic laser surgical system (100) may be coupled to an advanced control unit (200) via communications ports (110,210) such that the basic laser surgical system may be controllable by the advanced control unit to implement a broader set of functionality. By moving less frequently used functionality to the advanced control unit (200), the basic laser surgical unit (100) may be streamlined with regards to both cost and size, and the learning curve required to utilize the basic unit may be reduced relative to a more feature-ladened unit, allowing the basic unit to be utilized in myriad situations or procedures where an "all-in-one" unit would be less than desirable.
