MONROVIA, Calif., Jul 3, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA) today announced that it has been added to the Russell 2000 equity index, effective July 1, 2003. STAAR's index membership will remain in place for at least one year.

"We are very pleased to be included in the Russell index and regard this occasion as another milestone for the company," said David Bailey, president and CEO of STAAR Surgical. "We are delighted that the market has recognized our focus on continuing to build shareholder value."

Membership in Russell's 21 U.S. equity indexes is determined primarily by market capitalization rankings and style attributes. Russell indexes are widely used by managers for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. About $250 billion is invested in index funds based on Russell's indexes and an additional $850 billion is benchmarked to them. Investment managers who oversee these funds purchase shares of member stocks according to that company's weighting in the particular index.

Annual reconstitution of the Russell indexes captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000. The largest 1,000 companies in the ranking comprise the Russell 1000 Index while the remaining 2,000 companies become the widely used Russell 2000 Index.

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.

CONTACT: investors, Douglas Sherk, [email protected], or Jennifer Cohn, [email protected], +1-415-659-2285, or media, Sheryl Seapy, +1-415-272-3323, or [email protected], all of EVC Group, LLC, for STAAR Surgical Company.

SOURCE STAAR Surgical Company

investors, Douglas Sherk, [email protected], or Jennifer
Cohn, [email protected], +1-415-659-2285, or media, Sheryl Seapy,
+1-415-272-3323, or [email protected], all of EVC Group, LLC, for STAAR
Surgical Company

http://www.staar.com