A cassette (74) for use with an ophthalmic surgical pump (16) for collecting aspirantfluid and tissue from a patient's eye includes a rigid walled container(18) having an interior volume (42). At least one tapered alignment slot (20)is formed in a side wall of the container (18) and extends from a back wall (24) towardsa front wall (26). An irrigation and aspiration manifold base (50) is removeablyattached to the container (18). An aspiration path (46) is formed within the container(18) for receiving the aspiration fluid and the tissue from the eye and directingthe flow of fluid towards a front half of the container (18) before the fluid andtissue collects within a majority of the interior volume (42) of the container(18). A fluid level indicator (34) is formed on a wall (22) of the container (18),such that an associated photo-detector (86) of the pump (16) may determine a levelof fluid in the container (18).
