An articulating ophthalmic surgical probe, comprising: a handle formed from a rigid plastic material and sized to fit in a single hand; a rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 0.81 mm (20 Ga) or less; a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula; at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula, and the slotted tip; a pull-wire permanently attached to the slotted tip at a distal end of the pull-wire, wherein when the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from a straight position to a bent position controlled by the tension in the pull-wire, the slotted tip formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released; an anchor permanently attached to a proximal end of the pull wire; a weld pin secured within the handle welded to the anchor; and a slider pin inserted into a ramp of the handle, and a slot in the handle, the slot including a widened portion; and a switch snap fitted into the slot, the switch configured to slide relative to the handle and fits onto the slider pin and, when slid towards the slotted tip, configured to advance the slider pin along the ramp from a first position, which corresponds to a position when the switch is in its rearmost position with respect to the slotted tip, to a second position, the slider thereby causing a deflection of the pull-wire and an associated increase in the tension of the pull-wire, the increased tension causing the slotted tip to deviate from the straight position to the bent position, the switch further comprising a compressible insert which is arranged to contact the slot and which, when the switch is in the first position, is arranged to expand into the widened portion of the slot and which, when slid along with the switch, is arranged to compress and to provide a uniform frictional force on the handle by contacting the slot as the switch is advanced in the slot. a handle formed from a rigid plastic material and sized to fit in a single hand; a rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 0.81 mm (20 Ga) or less; a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula; at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula, and the slotted tip; a pull-wire permanently attached to the slotted tip at a distal end of the pull-wire, wherein when the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from a straight position to a bent position controlled by the tension in the pull-wire, the slotted tip formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released; an anchor permanently attached to a proximal end of the pull wire; a weld pin secured within the handle welded to the anchor; and a slider pin inserted into a ramp of the handle, and a slot in the handle, the slot including a widened portion; and a switch snap fitted into the slot, the switch configured to slide relative to the handle and fits onto the slider pin and, when slid towards the slotted tip, configured to advance the slider pin along the ramp from a first position, which corresponds to a position when the switch is in its rearmost position with respect to the slotted tip, to a second position, the slider thereby causing a deflection of the pull-wire and an associated increase in the tension of the pull-wire, the increased tension causing the slotted tip to deviate from the straight position to the bent position, the switch further comprising a compressible insert which is arranged to contact the slot and which, when the switch is in the first position, is arranged to expand into the widened portion of the slot and which, when slid along with the switch, is arranged to compress and to provide a uniform frictional force on the handle by contacting the slot as the switch is advanced in the slot.