The invention relates to an eye surgical lighting unit for lighting internal ocular tissue. The lighting unit comprises a fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, for guiding a light beam to the distal end. The lighting unit also comprises a manual unit, provided with a cannula and a handle having an internal passage positioned in line with the cannula. The fiber is adjustable between an intraocular operational position in which the fiber extends through the internal passage of the handle and through the cannula, and a chandelier operational position in which the fiber is uncoupled from the manual unit.