An ophthalmic surgical instrument for peeling a retinal membrane includes a handle and an actuator mounted on the handle. A first arm and a second arm extend outwardly from a distal end of an outer tube mounted to the handle. The first arm includes a first pulling surface and a first gripping surface and the second arm includes a second pulling surface and a second gripping surface. The pulling surface of each arm is substantially perpendicular to the gripping surface of each arm and the gripping surfaces of the arms face one another. The first pulling surface and the second pulling surface move toward one another when the outer tube is extended over the first arm and the second arm in order to raise a flap of the retinal membrane that is then gripped between the first gripping surface and the second gripping surface.