MONROVIA, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that it has appointed McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the Company's independent accountant to audit its financial statements for the fiscal year ending January 4, 2004. The decision to engage McGladrey was recommended by STAAR's Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and approved by the full Board of Directors. STAAR's previous independent auditor was BDO Seidman, LLP.

McGladrey & Pullen is one of the nation's leading auditors focused on mid-sized companies and an independent member firm of RSM International, the seventh largest accounting and consulting organization in the world.

The decision to change auditors was not caused by any disagreement between the Company and BDO Seidman, LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, nor has there been such a disagreement during the last two fiscal years. In addition, during the two most recent fiscal years BDO Seidman's reports have contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. As defined by Regulation S-K, Item 304(a)(1)(v) there have also not been any reportable events for the Company during the last two years.

"During the past two years, we have worked diligently to maximize shareholder value," said David Bailey, president and CEO of STAAR Surgical. "We have implemented several strategic changes including strengthening our Board of Directors, senior management team and corporate and litigation counsel. In February Don Duffy, former CFO of Iolab, a division of Johnson & Johnson, joined our board and became chairman of STAAR's Audit Committee. Under Mr. Duffy's leadership, the audit committee conducted an extensive review of our current and anticipated future audit needs and selected McGladrey & Pullen as our independent auditor. We appreciate the contributions made by BDO Seidman throughout their engagement with the Company."

About STAAR Surgical

STAAR Surgical is a leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of minimally invasive ophthalmic products employing proprietary technologies. STAAR's products are used by ophthalmic surgeons and include the revolutionary Implantable Contact Lens as well as innovative products designed to improve patient outcomes for cataracts and glaucoma.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including any statements concerning proposed new products and government approval of new products, services or developments, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include the need to obtain regulatory approval for new products, acceptance of new products by medical practitioners and consumers, the rapid pace of technological change in the ophthalmic industry, general domestic and international economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of STAAR Surgical Company, including those detailed from time to time in STAAR Surgical Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. STAAR Surgical Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    CONTACT:
     Investors                       Media
     EVC Group                       EVC Group
     Douglas Sherk, 415-659-2285     Sheryl Seapy, 415-272-3323
     Jennifer Cohn, 415-659-2289

SOURCE  STAAR Surgical Company
    -0-                             06/09/2003
    /CONTACT:  investors, Douglas Sherk, +1-415-659-2285, or Jennifer Cohn,
+1-415-659-2289, or media, Sheryl Seapy, +1-415-272-3323, all of EVC Group,
for STAAR Surgical Company/
    /Web site:  http://www.staar.com /
    (STAA)

CO:  STAAR Surgical Company; McGladrey & Pullen, LLP; BDO Seidman, LLP
ST:  California
IN:  MTC BIO HEA FIN
SU:  CON



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9863 06/09/2003 06:30 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com