James Farnworth, Regulatory and Quality Assurance Veteran, Appointed Vice

            President of Quality, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs

MONROVIA, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that it has appointed James Farnworth, RAC as its new Vice President of Quality, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs.

Mr. Farnworth has nearly 15 years of experience in global regulatory affairs and quality assurance and more than 11 years of experience dealing with medical devices. He recently joined STAAR Surgical from Volcano Therapeutics, Inc. where he was the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance. Prior to his employment with Volcano Therapeudics, Mr. Farnworth held positions of increasing responsibility with Irvine Biomedical, Inc., eScreen, Inc., Pacific Biometrics, Neoprobe Corp., and Ambis, Inc. Mr. Farnworth has a Bachelor of Science degree in Design Engineering from Brigham Young University.

"With his excellent background in global regulatory affairs and quality assurance, we believe James will greatly strengthen our regulatory team. To ensure continuity with the FDA, we will continue to utilize the services of Quintiles who, along with James, will execute our FDA compliance initiatives," said David Bailey, President and CEO of STAAR Surgical.

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 VISIAN ICL(TM) as well as innovative products designed to improve patient outcomes for cataracts and glaucoma. STAAR's ICL has received CE Marking, is approved for sale in 37 countries and has been implanted in more than 35,000 eyes worldwide. It is currently under review by the FDA for use in the United States.

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 results of our response to FDA warning letters, 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, access to financing 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 to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or actual outcomes and does not intend to do so.

     CONTACT:  Investors                          Media
               EVC Group                          EVC Group
               Douglas Sherk, 415-896-6820        Sheryl Seapy, 415-272-3323
               Jennifer Beugelmans, 415-896-6820


SOURCE  STAAR Surgical Company
    -0-                             10/12/2004
    /CONTACT:  investors, Douglas Sherk, +1-415-896-6820, or Jennifer
Beugelmans, +1-415-896-6820, 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
ST:  California
IN:  HEA MTC
SU:  PER

MP-RN 
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3728 10/12/2004 06:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com