MONROVIA, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today announced very strong participation in the first of its nine-part webinar series on the Company's Visian ICL(TM) (Implantable Collamer Lens). The first session which aired Tuesday, April 22, 2008, titled "How My Website Compels Patients to Call Me," is part of a new marketing initiative designed to help refractive physicians build their Visian ICL practices. Over 450 physicians and more than 250 practice administrators registered for the ICL Growth Program.

The ICL Growth Program, developed in collaboration with Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, focuses on the key elements required to build a successful Visian ICL practice. Dr. Boxer Wachler has developed a thriving Visian ICL practice and was recently featured on the NBC News Today show performing bilateral implants of the Visian ICL in his office suite. In addition, the work of other Visian ICL surgeons has been featured on numerous shows recently, including Dr. Steven Chang on ABC News in San Francisco, Dr. Konrad Filutowski on Fox News in Orlando and Dr. William Goldstein on Fox News in Detroit, while Dr. Paul Dougherty will be featured on an episode of the "Modern Beauty Show" airing on the Style Channel in three parts this month.

"We are pleased and excited that so many physicians and practice administrators took advantage of this program," said Barry G. Caldwell, President and CEO of STAAR. "Our ICL Growth Program is designed to help interested surgeons capitalize on the growing consumer awareness of the Visian ICL's benefits and complements our recent growth curve in the U.S. market. Dr. Boxer Wachler has made the Visian ICL an integral part of his successful practice, and we are delighted to have him share his story with other physicians. In future sessions of this nine part series other successful surgeons may be joining Dr. Boxer Wachler to share their experiences."

About STAAR Surgical

STAAR 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. Manufactured in Switzerland by STAAR, the ICL is approved by the FDA for use in treating myopia, has received CE Marking and is sold in more than 40 countries. 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, 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 our limited capital resources and limited access to financing, the challenge of managing foreign subsidiaries, the willingness of surgeons and patients to adopt a new product and procedure 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.

     Contacts:  Investors                         Media
                EVC Group                         EVC Group
                Doug Sherk, 415-896-6820          Steve DiMattia, 646-277-8706
                Matthew Selinger, 415-896-6817    Chris Gale, 646-201-5431


SOURCE  STAAR Surgical Company
    -0-                             04/23/2008
    /CONTACT:  Investors, Doug Sherk, +1-415-896-6820, or Matthew Selinger,
+1-415-896-6817, or Media, Steve DiMattia, +1-646-277-8706, or Chris Gale,
+1-646-201-5431, all of EVC Group for STAAR Surgical Company/
    /Web site:  http://www.staar.com /
    (STAA)

CO:  STAAR Surgical Company
ST:  California, Florida, Michigan
IN:  HEA MTC BIO
SU:

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0061 04/23/2008 09:25 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com