A phacoemulsification system comprising: a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle; wherein the needle is coupled to a power source configured to cause the needle to be ultrasonically vibrated during operation; wherein the needle further comprises an aspiration port that is coupled to an aspiration source; a footpedal defining a first position and a second position; and a computer program product operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and the footpedal, the computer program product having a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process that controls power from the power source and vacuum from the aspiration source applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece, said process comprising: providing the vacuum at a first vacuum level to the handpiece up to a first maximum vacuum level when the footpedal is at the first position; determining if a time counter has reached a time counter limit, wherein the time counter is actuated when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position; providing power to the handpiece when the footpedal is at the second position; and reducing the vacuum to a second vacuum level up to a new maximum vacuum level when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position and the time counter limit is reached, wherein the new maximum vacuum level is less than the first maximum vacuum level. a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle; wherein the needle is coupled to a power source configured to cause the needle to be ultrasonically vibrated during operation; wherein the needle further comprises an aspiration port that is coupled to an aspiration source; a footpedal defining a first position and a second position; and a computer program product operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and the footpedal, the computer program product having a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process that controls power from the power source and vacuum from the aspiration source applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece, said process comprising: providing the vacuum at a first vacuum level to the handpiece up to a first maximum vacuum level when the footpedal is at the first position; determining if a time counter has reached a time counter limit, wherein the time counter is actuated when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position; providing power to the handpiece when the footpedal is at the second position; and reducing the vacuum to a second vacuum level up to a new maximum vacuum level when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position and the time counter limit is reached, wherein the new maximum vacuum level is less than the first maximum vacuum level. providing the vacuum at a first vacuum level to the handpiece up to a first maximum vacuum level when the footpedal is at the first position; determining if a time counter has reached a time counter limit, wherein the time counter is actuated when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position; providing power to the handpiece when the footpedal is at the second position; and reducing the vacuum to a second vacuum level up to a new maximum vacuum level when the footpedal transitions from the first position to the second position and the time counter limit is reached, wherein the new maximum vacuum level is less than the first maximum vacuum level.