MONROVIA, Calif., Oct 7, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA) today announced that it will host a comprehensive conference call to discuss the positive outcome of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Ophthalmic Devices Panel of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) panel meeting held last Friday, October 3, 2003. The panel voted 8-3 to recommend that the STAAR Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) be approved with conditions for use in correcting myopia in the range of -3 diopters to -15 diopters and reducing myopia in the range of -15 diopters to -20 diopters. Management will also review clinical outcomes and the anticipated market size for the product given the panel's recommended approval range.

The call will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2003 at 5:30 AM Pacific Time. The dial-in number for the conference call is 800-240-2134 for domestic participants and 303-262-2050 for international participants.

A taped replay of the conference call will also be available beginning approximately one hour after the call's conclusion and will remain available through 9:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, October 16, 2003 and can be accessed by dialing 800-405-2236 for domestic callers and 303-590-3000 for international callers, using passcode 555652#. To access the live webcast of the call, go to STAAR Surgical's website at www.staar.com. An archived webcast will also be available at www.staar.com

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 projections of earnings, revenue, or other financial items, any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, 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.

     Contacts:
     Investors                        Media
     EVC Group                        EVC Group
     Douglas Sherk, 415-896-6820      Sheryl Seapy
     Jennifer Cohn, 415-896-6820      (415) 272-3323

SOURCE STAAR Surgical Company

Investors, Douglas Sherk, +1-415-896-6820 or Jennifer Cohn,
+1-415-896-6820, or, Media, Sheryl Seapy, +1-415-272-3323, all of EVC Group,
for STAAR Surgical Company

http://www.staar.com