A system, method and apparatus for notifying a surgeon of an occlusion in an ocular surgical apparatus are disclosed herein. Through operation of a handpiece of the surgical apparatus, the handpiece may become blocked or occluded. An occlusion detector is configured to sense the occlusion in the handpiece, and an occlusion signal is generated. A control module is provided to send an occlusion warning signal to a foot pedal of the surgical apparatus, where a tactile notification is provided to a user of the apparatus that an occlusion has occurred.