An ophthalmic surgical apparatus for phacoemulsification includes an aspiration line to transport an aspiration fluid and particles of an eye generated by phacoemulsification. A suction vacuum pump draws in the aspiration fluid and the particles of the eye via the aspiration line and a flow limiter adjustably limits the flow to a flow lying in a range of 5 milliliter to 100 milliliter per minute. The aspiration line defines an inner cross section and has an outer wall. The flow limiter is arranged upstream of the suction vacuum pump and has at least two press-on elements. The elements are each configured to contact engage the outer wall so as to cause the inner cross section to be reduced. The press-on elements are disposed mutually spaced so as to define a predetermined distance therebetween and are arranged to be rotatably movable in a rotational direction about a common rotational axis.