Membrane forceps (100, 200) for performing an ILM (internal limiting membrane) or ERM (epiretinal membrane) peel procedure; comprising: a handle; an actuation tube extending from the handle; and forceps jaws (108, 120, 122, 200, 202, 204) extending from a distal end of the actuation tube along a longitudinal axis defined by the actuation tube, each of the jaws (120, 122) including a projecting leg and a distal gripping tip, the legs extending from the actuation tube, the gripping tips each including a leading edge at the distal ends of the gripping tips and a grip face; the forceps jaws being configured to grasp an ILM or ERM between the two opposing grip faces (132, 222) configured to abut each other when the forceps jaws are closed, the forceps jaws also each comprising an outer distal scraping surface external to the grip faces (132, 222), having a series of ridges (142, 230), the series of ridges being structurally configured to aid in scraping the ILM or ERM and gaining an edge of the ILM or ERM; wherein the series of ridges are disposed substantially within a range of 10 degrees or less from parallel to leading edges at distal-most ends of the forceps jaws, wherein the leading edges lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube; wherein the series of ridges comprise surface features having a peak to valley height within a range of about 3-40 microns, and wherein the outer distal scraping surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube at an angle having a value between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees to lie substantially parallel to tissue within an eye that is to be scraped with the membrane forceps in the eye. a handle; an actuation tube extending from the handle; and forceps jaws (108, 120, 122, 200, 202, 204) extending from a distal end of the actuation tube along a longitudinal axis defined by the actuation tube, each of the jaws (120, 122) including a projecting leg and a distal gripping tip, the legs extending from the actuation tube, the gripping tips each including a leading edge at the distal ends of the gripping tips and a grip face; the forceps jaws being configured to grasp an ILM or ERM between the two opposing grip faces (132, 222) configured to abut each other when the forceps jaws are closed, the forceps jaws also each comprising an outer distal scraping surface external to the grip faces (132, 222), having a series of ridges (142, 230), the series of ridges being structurally configured to aid in scraping the ILM or ERM and gaining an edge of the ILM or ERM; wherein the series of ridges are disposed substantially within a range of 10 degrees or less from parallel to leading edges at distal-most ends of the forceps jaws, wherein the leading edges lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube; wherein the series of ridges comprise surface features having a peak to valley height within a range of about 3-40 microns, and wherein the outer distal scraping surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube at an angle having a value between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees to lie substantially parallel to tissue within an eye that is to be scraped with the membrane forceps in the eye.