Seasoned Industry Executive brings over 20 Years of Healthcare Marketing &
                               Sales Experience

MONROVIA, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced that it has hired Mr. Robin Hughes, 43, a former Vice President of Global Strategy and Commercialization at Bausch & Lomb, as STAAR's new Vice President of Marketing. Darcy Wendel, the current Vice President of Marketing at STAAR Surgical, who has been with the Company for seven years, has recently made a decision to transition to a role as an independent marketing consultant to obtain a better balance between her personal and professional life. Mr. Hughes will report to David Bailey, the President and CEO of STAAR Surgical.

"Robin's 20 years of healthcare marketing experience and expertise within refractive surgery will help us to further strengthen our sales and marketing teams," said Mr. Bailey. "During his 13-year tenure at Bausch & Lomb, Robin built a unique skill set in consumer marketing and product commercialization and his impressive track record includes helping the company grow its global refractive surgery business through the successful implementation of marketing, product development and commercialization strategies. We believe Robin will make an excellent addition to our team and we look forward to his contributions. At the same time, we are also grateful for the key marketing role that Darcy has played over the years. We are pleased that by retaining her as independent consultant, she will be able to continue making a vital contribution to STAAR's marketing efforts."

Mr. Hughes joins STAAR Surgical from H Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in marketing and strategy. Prior to founding the firm, Mr. Hughes spent 13 years at Bausch & Lomb, most recently as Vice President of Global Strategy and Commercialization for refractive surgery from 2002 until 2006, and as Vice President of Marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) from 2001 until 2002. Prior to these roles he held EMEA Director of Marketing positions at B&L in both the Surgical and Visioncare divisions.

"I look forward to leading STAAR Surgical's US marketing efforts," said Mr. Hughes. "STAAR has a unique and well-positioned product portfolio with exciting growth opportunities in the refractive and cataract markets. I joined STAAR because I see the tremendous potential for the Company's Visian ICL(TM) and TICL(TM) products, as well as strong opportunities to regain market share for its cataract lens franchise as the Company continues to strengthen its product offerings."

Prior to joining Bausch & Lomb in 1993, Mr. Hughes spent eight years in the pharmaceutical industry, transitioning from sales into marketing at Merck, Inc. He earned his MBA from the Henley Management College, Brunel University. His scientific background includes qualifications in medical microbiology from The Royal London Hospital, and in human physiology and cell biology from the University of Westminster.

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 Visian ICL, a tiny, flexible lens implanted to correct refractive errors, as well as innovative products designed to improve patient outcomes for cataracts and glaucoma. STAAR's ICL is approved by the FDA for use in treating myopia, has received CE Marking and is sold in more than 40 countries. More than 65,000 ICLs have been sold worldwide. More information is available at http://www.staar.com.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations and any statements regarding the prospects for success for our marketing efforts or expectations for success of the ICL, cataract products or our other products. 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 our limited capital resources and limited access to financing, the challenge of adapting our largely independent marketing model to the challenges of the refractive market, our ability to overcome negative publicity resulting from warning letters and other correspondence from the FDA Office of Compliance, the willingness of surgeons and patients to adopt a new product and procedure, and our ability to successfully market the ICL in the U.S. while overcoming the foregoing challenges, and other factors beyond our control, including those detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. STAAR 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        Jen Saunders, 646-201-5431
                 Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-201-5447


SOURCE  STAAR Surgical Company
    -0-                             05/31/2007
    /CONTACT:  Investors, Douglas Sherk, +1-415-896-6820, or Jennifer
Beugelmans, +1-646-201-5447, or Media, Jen Saunders, +1-646-201-5431, all of
EVC Group for STAAR Surgical Company/
    /Web site:  http://www.staar.com /
    (STAA)

CO:  STAAR Surgical Company; Bausch & Lomb; H Consulting, LLC
ST:  California
IN:  HEA MTC
SU:  PER

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7587 05/31/2007 16:01 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com