A surgical guidance system and method for assisting a surgeon in a surgical procedure performed on a patient is disclosed. The system comprises an image acquisition device configured to generate substantially real-time digital video data representing patient images of an eye of the patient. The system further comprises a processor coupled to the image acquisition device and configured to receive the digital video data from the image acquisition device, receive external data from an external data source, and generate composite digital image data based on the digital video data and the external data. The system further comprises a display device coupled to the processor, the display device being configured to display, to the surgeon from the composite digital image data, overlaid images including procedural prompts according to the patient images and the external data.
