A method and system for controlling an ultrasonically driven handpiece employable in an ocular surgical procedure is provided. The method includes operating the ultrasonically driven handpiece in a first tip displacement mode, such as a longitudinal mode according to a first set of operational parameters, and enabling a user to alter the ultrasonically driven handpiece to employ a second tip displacement mode, such as a transversal or torsional mode, using a second set of operational parameters. Enabling the user to alter performance of the handpiece comprises the user being enabled to dynamically select operational parameters for the first tip displacement mode relative to the second tip displacement mode by using, for example, a switching apparatus such as a footpedal.