A cassette (74) for use with an ophthalmic surgical pump (16) for collecting aspirant fluid and tissue from a patients 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) towards a front wall (26). An irrigation and aspiration manifold base (50) is removeably attached 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 directing the flow of fluid towards a front half of the container (18) before the fluid and tissue 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 level of fluid in the container (18).
