A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation system, an aspiration system, and a computer. The irrigation system is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. The aspiration system is in fluid communication with the handpiece via an aspiration conduit and carries fluid away from the surgical site. The computer instructs the aspiration system to vibrate fluid back and forth within the aspiration conduit to perform a priming procedure.