Abstract: Screen navigation control apparatus for an ophthalmic surgical instrument, the apparatus includes a monitor having a screen and a monitor bezel having a generally horizontal shelf aligned with a bottom of said screen and a generally vertical portion aligned with a side of the screen. A plurality of spaced apart switches, disposed on the horizontal shelf, one provided for activating corresponding vertical displays on screen, each corresponding vertical display being aligned with one of the switch means. A sliding touch control panel, disposed in a continuous strip along the bezel vertical portion enables selection of functions and alphanumeric data appearing in an activated vertical display. A computer is utilized for generating vertical displays generally parallel to the sliding touch control means.