Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for aspirating and irrigating material within a posterior capsule of an eye, including an elongated hollow tube member having a tip portion with a fluid conduit extending therethrough to a region of the tip thereof, a sleeve member surrounding the tube member in a direction of elongation of the tube member so as to define an annular space between the sleeve and the tube member, an irrigation supply for conveying an irrigation fluid through the hollow of the tube member to flow to the region of the capsule to be irrigated, vacuum for aspirating fluid from the interior of the capsule to flow through the annular space, and flow controls to selectively reverse the direction of fluid flow through the irrigation supply and the vacuum so that irrigation and aspiration take place through the annular space and the hollow tube, respectively.