A Phacoemulsification surgical system provides a live video feed from a camera that is attached to a surgical microscope. The live video feed is shown as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) of phacoemulsification surgical console either in a picture in picture or a full-screen format. The video feed is either static or displayed on-demand as needed during a surgical procedure. The displaying of a live video feed directly on the phacoemulsification surgical console allows for surgical assistants to interact with the live video feed and phacoemulsification surgical system parameters and/or GUI controls without having to refocus on an external object between near and far distances.