MONROVIA, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that it has been invited to present at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey's 33rd Annual Institutional Investor Conference at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, May 25, 2004. The Company is scheduled to discuss its business strategy and historical financial performance in Salon 6 at 2:40 p.m. Eastern Time.

Attendance at the conference is by invitation only. STAAR Surgical will offer a live audio-only webcast of its presentation which may be accessed at STAAR's website at www.staar.com. An archived replay of the presentation will also be available immediately following at the company's website.

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.

    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-                             05/20/2004
    /CONTACT:  Investors, Douglas Sherk or Jennifer Beugelmans,
+1-415-896-6820, or, Media, Sheryl Seapy, +1-415-272-3323, all of EVC Group,
for STAAR Surgical/
    /Web site:  http://www.staar.com /
    (STAA)

CO:  STAAR Surgical Company
ST:  California, Georgia
IN:  HEA MTC SPM
SU:  TDS CCA

JO 
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6810 05/20/2004 13:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com