MONROVIA, Calif., Oct 23, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA) today announced that it will have an investor conference call following the release of its third quarter financial results. The conference call will be placed on Thursday, October 31, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time, 4:30 Eastern time.

On the day of the conference call participants should dial (800) 773-2261 in US/Canada or 1-706-634-1467 for International, ten minutes before the scheduled start of the conference call and ask for conference ID# 6289635. A tape replay of the call will be available two hours after the conclusion of the conference through Thursday, November 7, 2002 by dialing (800) 642-1687 in US/Canada or 1-706-645-9291 International, and giving the conference ID# 6289635.

It is STAAR Surgical's policy to comply fully with Regulation FD. Therefore, STAAR intends to utilize this web cast conference call to discuss financially oriented goals and objectives and to disclose material Company and industry-based topics in an open manner. The Company does not plan to report or comment on its progress during the quarter. Any statement made by others with respect to progress mid-quarter cannot be attributed to the Company. During a quarter, the Company's commentary will be limited to discussions of public information, such as historic financial performance, and matters that are deemed to be immaterial. STAAR will make no comments with respect to market rumors or speculation.

Founded in 1982, STAAR Surgical Company develops, manufactures and globally distributes medical devices for use in refractive, cataract and glaucoma surgery. The Company's five product lines include silicone and Collamer(TM) foldable intraocular lenses and the Sonic WAVE(TM) phacoemulsification system, all of which are used during cataract surgery, the ICL(TM) (implantable contact lens) which is a refractive lens for the treatment of near- and far-sightedness and the AquaFlow(TM) Collagen Glaucoma Drainage Device. Regulatory approvals vary from market to market with all products except the Toric ICL(TM) available in Europe and all except the ICL(TM) in the United States.

For additional information, about STAAR Surgical, visit the Company's web site at http://www.STAAR.com or www.irbyctc.com . You may wish to contact David Bailey, President, STAAR Surgical, or John Bily, Chief Financial Officer, STAAR Surgical, at (626) 303-7902. To contact Bill Roberts, President, CTC, Inc., or Wayne Buckhout, CTC Inc., please call (937) 434-2700

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SOURCE STAAR Surgical Company

CONTACT:          David Bailey, President, or John Bily, Chief Financial Officer
                  of STAAR Surgical, +1-626-303-7902; or Bill Roberts, President, or Wayne
                  Buckhout of CTC Inc., +1-937-434-2700

URL:              http://www.STAAR.com
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