A system, comprising: an analysis module comprising one or more algorithms and is configured to use one or more base settings, one or more user settings, and/or one or more real time instrument data to recommend one or more changes to the one or more base settings and/or one or more user settings; one or more components selected from the group consisting of a user preference filter, a surgical circumstances filter, and a real time data collection module, wherein the user preference filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use a default programs database and user preferences to generate one or more base settings, wherein the surgical circumstances filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use one or more selected from the group consisting of: one or more base settings, one or more recommended changes, and one or more surgical/patient circumstances to generate one or more user settings, wherein the real time data collection module is configured to monitor and/or record the real time data collected using a surgical instrument and store the real time data in a real time instrument data database, and wherein the recommended changes to the one or more base settings and/or one or more user settings are automatically implemented; and a surgical instrument configured to operate based on one or more user settings, wherein the real time data collection module is configured to monitor and/or record the real time data collected using the surgical instrument, the analysis module is configured to use the real time instrument data database comprising the real time instrument data, and the surgical instrument is an ophthalmic surgical instrument. an analysis module comprising one or more algorithms and is configured to use one or more base settings, one or more user settings, and/or one or more real time instrument data to recommend one or more changes to the one or more base settings and/or one or more user settings; one or more components selected from the group consisting of a user preference filter, a surgical circumstances filter, and a real time data collection module, wherein the user preference filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use a default programs database and user preferences to generate one or more base settings, wherein the surgical circumstances filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use one or more selected from the group consisting of: one or more base settings, one or more recommended changes, and one or more surgical/patient circumstances to generate one or more user settings, wherein the real time data collection module is configured to monitor and/or record the real time data collected using a surgical instrument and store the real time data in a real time instrument data database, and wherein the recommended changes to the one or more base settings and/or one or more user settings are automatically implemented; and wherein the user preference filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use a default programs database and user preferences to generate one or more base settings, wherein the surgical circumstances filter comprises one or more algorithms and is configured to use one or more selected from the group consisting of: one or more base settings, one or more recommended changes, and one or more surgical/patient circumstances to generate one or more user settings, wherein the real time data collection module is configured to monitor and/or record the real time data collected using a surgical instrument and store the real time data in a real time instrument data database, and wherein the recommended changes to the one or more base settings and/or one or more user settings are automatically implemented; and a surgical instrument configured to operate based on one or more user settings, wherein the real time data collection module is configured to monitor and/or record the real time data collected using the surgical instrument, the analysis module is configured to use the real time instrument data database comprising the real time instrument data, and the surgical instrument is an ophthalmic surgical instrument.