There is disclosed herein a system for removing material from within an eye, the system comprising: a probe having a distal tip insertable into the eye, wherein the tip comprises an aspiration port; a console coupled with the port along an aspiration pathway, wherein the console comprises a processor and a pump system for providing a first pump rate and a second pump rate higher than the first pump rate, and wherein the processor is configured to automatically switch from the first pump rate to the second pump rate and control aspiration of the probe by tracking a vacuum level up to a threshold, and control aspiration through the probe by tracking a flow rate through the probe when the threshold has been passed.