STAAR Surgical
STAA
#6046
Rank
A$1.61 B
Marketcap
A$32.30
Share price
0.40%
Change (1 day)
-22.19%
Change (1 year)
Text size:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] Annual

For the fiscal year ended January 1, 1999
---------------

[_] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ___________ to ___________

Commission file number: 0-11634

STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>

<S> <C>
Delaware 95-3797439
- ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
organization)


1911 Walker Avenue
Monrovia, California 91016
- ---------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
</TABLE>

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code): (626) 303-7902
--------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
----
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
------------------------------------------
(Title of Class)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [_]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this Chapter) is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant as of March 30, 1999 was approximately $86,200,000 based upon the
closing price per share of the Common Stock of $7.75 on that date.

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's classes of Common Stock as of
March 30, 1999:

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value -- 14,029,810 shares
------------------------------------------------------------


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Information required by Part III (Items 10, 11, 12 and 13) is incorporated by
reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
ADVISEMENT

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") which reflect the Company's
current expectations regarding the future results of operations, performance and
achievements of the Company, or industry results. The Company has tried,
wherever possible, to identify these forward looking statements by, among other
things, using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and
similar expressions. These statements reflect the current beliefs of the
Company and are based on information currently available to it. Accordingly,
these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company or the industry to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied
by, these statements. The Company is not obligated to update or revise these
"forward looking" statements to reflect new events or circumstances.

PART I
------

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General Development Of Business

STAAR Surgical Company ("STAAR" or the "Company") (Nasdaq National Market
symbol "STAA") was incorporated in California in 1982 as a successor to a
partnership for the purpose of developing, producing, and marketing IOLs and
other products for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. The Company was
reincorporated in Delaware in April 1986. The Company has evolved to become a
developer, manufacturer and global distributor of products used by
ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals to improve or correct vision
in patients suffering from refractive conditions, cataracts and glaucoma.
Products manufactured by the Company for use in correcting refractive conditions
such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism
include its Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL(TM)) and Toric(TM) Intraocular Lens.
Products manufactured by the Company for use in restoring vision adversely
affected by cataracts include its line of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs), and the
Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine. The Company's AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is used
in preventing the buildup of excessive aqueous which leads to deterioration of
vision in patients afflicted with glaucoma. The Company also sells other
instruments, devices and equipment which are manufactured either by the Company
or by others in the ophthalmic products industry. Unless the context indicates
otherwise, the terms "STAAR" or the "Company" as used herein refer to STAAR
Surgical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Highlights of the general
development of the Company's business during 1998 are discussed below.

The year ending January 1, 1999 set the stage for growth as significant
progress was made in expanding the Company's market focus from the cataract
market alone to include the refractive and glaucoma markets, increasing global
sales of the Company's products, and increasing the Company's international
revenues. Revenues for 1998 were $55.1 million, an increase of $9.6 million, or
more than 21%, from 1997. Net earnings for 1998 amounted to $2.5 million, or
$0.17 per diluted share, compared to $7.4 million, or $0.53 per diluted share,
reported in 1997. Significant operational matters affected 1998 including the
completion of the purchase of five international sales subsidiaries, a change in
the Company's product mix of manufactured vs. purchased items and increased
expenditures related to the Company's regulatory and marketing efforts for its
new products. Also during 1998 the Company adopted Statement of Position 98-5
issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts, related to start-
up costs which resulted in a charge of $0.12 per diluted share which is reported
as a change in accounting method.

During 1998, the Company completed the establishment of or otherwise
acquired five international subsidiaries for sales of ophthalmic medical
devices. These acquisitions accounted for an increase in the Company's revenues
of $18.2 million or 33%. A primary function of these sales subsidiaries is to
provide better control of the release of the Company's newer products,
particularly the ICL(TM) and AQUA-FLOW(TM)

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glaucoma device, into the marketplace. The Company plans to continue acquiring
or establishing sales subsidiaries in areas where market share and profitability
make it feasible to do so. The Company now has eleven Company-owned sales
subsidiaries operating outside the United States. While these sales subsidiaries
sell the Company's products, several carry products from other manufacturers and
earn substantial revenues from the sales of those products.

During 1998 the Company also continued working toward obtaining approval
from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), for sale in the
United States, of its myopic and hyperopic ICLs(TM) and its AQUA-FLOW(TM)
glaucoma device. The clinical trials of the ICLs(TM) began in March 1997.
Phase I was completed in November 1997 for the Company's myopic ICL(TM) and in
April 1998 for its hyperopic ICL(TM). The Company completed Phase II of the
clinical trials for the myopic ICL(TM) in December 1998. In October 1998, the
FDA permitted the Company to expand its clinical trial of the myopic ICL(TM) to
Phase III, and to enroll a total of 350 patients with refractive errors from 3
to 20 diopters in each study. The Company expects to receive clearance to begin
clinical trials for Phase III of the hyperopic ICL(TM) during 1999. In late
1997 the Company began clinical trials for its AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device
and, as of January 1, 1999, the Company was over half way through with
enrollment for these trials. The Company has obtained the CE Mark for the
myopic and hyperopic ICLs(TM) and the AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device. The CE
Mark allows the Company to market these products to members of the European
Economic Union.

In November 1998 the Company received FDA marketing clearance to begin
selling the Toric(TM) IOL in the United States. The Toric IOL(TM) is the only
intraocular lens designed to reduce pre-existing astigmatism in cataract
patients. The Company believes that approximately one in every five cataract
patients has a pre-existing astigmatism, and that the Toric(TM) IOL will,
therefore, be an attractive product to ophthalmologists and eye-care
professionals. Besides having FDA approval to market the Toric(TM) lens in the
United States, the Company has obtained the CE Mark for this lens.

In late 1998 the Company also introduced the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification
Machine, which removes the cataractous debris resulting from the destruction of
the patient's natural lens during cataract surgery.

Financial Information About Industry Segments

In 1998 the Company began expanding its marketing focus beyond the cataract
market to include the refractive and glaucoma markets as well. However, during
1998 the cataract market remained the primary source of the Company's revenues.

Narrative Description of Business

Background

The human eye is a specialized sensory organ capable of light reception and
able to receive visual images that are transmitted to the visual center in the
brain. The main parts of the eye are the cornea, the iris, the lens, the
retina, and the trabecular meshwork. The cornea is a spherically shaped window
in the front of the eye through which light passes. The iris is a muscular
curtain located behind the cornea which opens and closes to regulate the amount
of light entering the eye through the pupil, an opening at the center of the
iris. The lens is a clear structure located behind the iris which changes shape
to better focus the light to the retina, located in the back of the eye. The
retina is a layer of nerve tissue consisting of millions of light receptors
called rods and cones, which receive the light image and transmit it to the
brain via the optic nerve. The anterior chamber of the eye, located in front of
the iris, is filled with a watery fluid called the aqueous humour, while the
portion of the eye behind the iris is filled with a jelly-like material called
the vitreous humour. The trabecular meshwork, a drainage channel located
between the cornea and the surrounding white portion of the eye, maintains a low
pressure in the anterior chamber of the eye by draining excess aqueous humour.

2
The eye is affected by common visual refractive disorders such as myopia,
hyperopia and astigmatism and a number of ocular diseases, such as cataracts and
glaucoma. Myopia and hyperopia are caused by an anatomical imbalance between
the shape of the eye and the resulting distance between the cornea and the
retina. Astigmatism is caused by irregularities in the smoothness and curvature
of the cornea, causing improper focusing of the incoming light on the retina and
consequential blurring of vision. Cataracts are an irreversible and progressive
ophthalmic condition wherein the eye's natural lens loses its usual transparency
and becomes opaque. Glaucoma results from the build-up of excessive intraocular
pressure, primarily due to poor drainage of the aqueous humor. The increase in
pressure slowly and progressively damages the optic disc, resulting in a gradual
loss of vision.

Industry Segments

The market for ophthalmic products is a large and dynamic segment of the
healthcare industry. The major factors influencing this market are: (i) the
introduction of new methods of correcting vision problems and significant
medical technology advancements which have created cost effective treatments and
therapies, (ii) an aging worldwide population, (iii) the evolution toward
managed care, and (iv) the growing importance of international markets. The
Company's products serve the following segments of the ophthalmic market:

Approximately 50% of the world's population needs some form of vision
correction. Refractive Vision Correction Data obtained from the U.S. Census
Bureau and American Academy of Ophthalmology as well as reports by industry
analysts indicate that, in the United States, approximately 155 million people
are in need of some type of vision correction. Of this group, approximately 67
million (43%) had some degree of myopia (near-sightedness), approximately 72
million (46%) had some degree of hyperopia (far-sightedness), and approximately
45 million (29%) had some degree of astigmatism. Most individuals over age 45
also had presbyopia. Approximately 23 million (35%) people had moderate to high
myopia, which is defined as greater than 2.5 diopters and 23 million had
moderate to high hyperopia, which is defined as greater than 2.0 diopters. The
Company believes that its ICL(TM) will address the vision correction needs of
patients with moderate to high myopia, moderate to high hyperopia and
astigmatism. The market outside of the United States is larger than the United
States market. Worldwide, more than $25 billion is spent annually, on correcting
vision problems.

In the United States, people are seeking to correct their vision by means
other than glasses and contact lenses. In 1998, approximately 380,000 laser
procedures were performed to correct vision problems. Analysts have projected
that this market will grow 75% per year for the next four years. Some analysts
have even predicted that in the year 2000, over 775,000 laser procedures will be
performed. (Each eye is counted as a separate procedure.) The Company believes
that the laser market is creating awareness about alternatives to glasses and
contact lenses. The Company anticipates that this growing awareness will make
it easier for the Company to enter the refractive products market in the United
States if its ICLs(TM) are approved.

Cataract Treatment. Cataracts occur in varying degrees in approximately
one-half of Americans age 65 or older. Industry sources estimate that
approximately 2.3 million IOLs were implanted in the United States in 1998,
generating approximately $243 million in sales. The Company believes that
approximately 2.5 million IOLs were implanted outside the United States during
1998 (not including China and Russia, for which no reliable data exists),
generating an additional $350 million of sales. The Company believes that
approximately 75% of the domestic market for IOLs in 1998 was held by foldable
IOLs, compared to approximately 15% in 1992, and that approximately 50% of the
international market share is presently held by foldable IOLs. The Company
believes the share of the worldwide market held by foldable IOLs will continue
to increase due to the benefits of foldable IOLs over hard IOLs.

Glaucoma Treatment. The treatment for glaucoma encompasses drug therapies
as well as traditional and laser surgical procedures. There is no known cure
for glaucoma. The most commonly prescribed glaucoma drugs either inhibit the
build-up of intraocular fluid or promote increased drainage of intraocular

3
fluid, in either case reducing intraocular pressure and eye damage.  Traditional
surgical procedures for glaucoma (trabeculectomies) and laser surgical
procedures for glaucoma (trabeculoplasties) remove a portion of the trabecular
meshwork to create a channel for fluid to drain from the eye. The selection of
drug treatment over a trabeculectomy or trabeculoplasty is, in part, dependent
upon the stage of the disease and the prevailing glaucoma treatment used in the
country in which the treatment is prescribed.

The Company believes that glaucoma currently afflicts approximately two
million persons in the United States, and that the number of international cases
exceeds that of the United States. The worldwide market for glaucoma drugs is
approximately $850 million. It is estimated that 100,000 trabeculectomies and
300,000 laser trabeculoplasties were performed in the United States alone in
1998, representing total expenditures of approximately $400 million. The
Company believes glaucoma surgery is more prevalent than glaucoma drug therapy
in certain foreign countries due to cost and other considerations.

Products

The Company's products are designed to: (i) improve treatment results;
(ii) minimize patient risk and discomfort; and (iii) where possible, simplify
ophthalmic procedures for the surgeon and the patient. The Company sells its
products worldwide, principally to ophthalmologists, surgical centers,
hospitals, managed care providers, health maintenance organizations and group
purchasing organizations.

Refractive Correction - Implantable Contact Lenses(TM) (ICLs(TM)). ICLs(TM)
are lenses implanted in the eye to permanently correct common refractive vision
disorders including myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The ICL(TM) is targeted
to persons afflicted with moderate to severe hyperopia and myopia (defined as
more than two diopters) and for patients with astigmatism and other visual
disorders.

The ICL(TM) is folded and implanted into the eye behind the iris and in front
of the normal lens using minimally invasive surgical techniques similar to
implanting an IOL during cataract surgery, except that the human lens is not
removed. The five minute to twenty minute surgical procedure to implant the
ICL(TM) is typically performed with topical anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

Management believes the use of an ICL(TM) may potentially afford a number of
advantages over existing refractive surgical procedures, such as radial
keratotomy, photo-refractive keratectomy and laser in-situs keratomileusis,
including the possibility of being able to: (i) potentially correct all levels
of myopia and hyperopia and astigmatism; (ii) provide superior predictability of
results; (iii) enable faster recovery of vision and rehabilitation; (iv) produce
potentially superior refractive results; and (v) potentially correct or improve
other vision problems, such as amblyopia (lazy eye), keratoconus, etc.
Management intends to seek approval from the FDA to market the ICL(TM) to
achieve these benefits.

The Company commenced commercial sales of ICLs(TM) in late 1996 on a limited
basis in South Africa, China, and selected countries in Europe and South
America. In August 1997 the Company received a CE Mark allowing it to sell the
ICL(TM) in each of the countries comprising the European Union. In February,
1997, the FDA granted the Company an investigational device exemption (IDE) to
commence clinical studies consisting of three distinct phases within the United
States. The Company has completed the first two phases of the IDE, pursuant to
which 72 ICLs(TM) each for myopia and hyperopia have been implanted, and is
presently engaged in the third phase of the IDE for myopia, pursuant to which
278 additional ICLs(TM) will be implanted. During the first half of the 1999
calendar year, the Company expects to submit an application to proceed to the
third phase of the IDE for hyperopia. No assurance can be given as to when or
if the FDA will grant pre-market approval for the ICL(TM). See "Uncertainties
and Risk Factors - Government Regulation and Uncertainty of Product Approval" in
Item 7.

Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) and Related Cataract Treatment Products. The
Company produces and markets a line of foldable IOLs for use in minimally
invasive cataract surgical procedures. The Company's IOLs can be folded or
otherwise deformed, and therefore can be implanted into the eye through an
incision as

4
small as 2.2 mm. Once inserted, the Company's IOL unfolds naturally into the
capsular bag which previously held the cataractous lens. The primary advantages
of using minimally invasive surgical procedures are:

. Fewer Surgical Complications. A smaller incision minimizes eye
trauma and the potential for infection. In addition, the Company's
foldable IOL can typically be implanted under topical anesthesia,
thereby avoiding complications associated with the administration of
local anesthesia.

. Reduced Level of Surgically Induced Astigmatism. The ability to
eliminate sutures as a result of the smaller incision leads to a
reduction in the incidence of surgically induced astigmatism caused by
uneven healing of the surgical wound.

. Faster Recovery of Vision. Patients can typically recover their
best vision the same day the procedure is performed, as opposed to
thirty to forty-five days following surgery in the case of hard IOLs.

. Enhanced Benefits to Surgeons. The use of foldable IOLs enables
ophthalmologists to more quickly perform surgical procedures at lower
cost, and with greater ease and consistently higher quality outcomes.

The Company's foldable IOLs come in two differently configured styles, the
advanced single-piece ELASTIC(TM) model, and the ELASTIMIDE(TM) model based upon
the traditional three-piece design. The selection of one model over the other
is primarily based upon the preference of the ophthalmologist, although the
Company believes more experienced ophthalmologists prefer the single-piece
ELASTIC(TM) model. Sales of foldable IOLs accounted for approximately 71% of
total revenues for its 1998 fiscal year, approximately 85% of total revenues for
its 1997 fiscal year and approximately 91% of total revenues for its 1996 fiscal
year.

The Company has developed and currently markets worldwide the Toric(TM) IOL,
a version of its ELASTIC(TM) IOL, which is specifically designed for patients
with pre-existing astigmatism. The Company is the only manufacturer to offer an
IOL for astigmatism. The Toric(TM) IOL is the only IOL that can include in its
labeling that it improves uncorrected visual acuity. The Toric(TM) IOL serves as
a crossover product for the Company between both the cataract and refractive
markets and as such is the first refractive product offered by the Company in
the United States. In July 1997 the Company received a CE Mark allowing it to
sell the Toric(TM) IOL in each of the countries comprising the European Union,
and in November 1998 received pre-market approval from the FDA to market this
lens in the United States.

Phacoemulsification (phaco) machines are used during cataract surgery to
remove the patient's cataractous lens, usually through a small incision. The
most desired equipment is efficient, reliable, easily maintained, and cost
effective. There are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 phaco machines sold annually
at prices ranging from $20,000 to $85,000. The market for this equipment ranges
from $5 million to $10 million annually and the market for accessories such as
hand pieces, surgical packs, and phaco tips ranges from $50 million to $75
million annually. During 1998, the Company introduced the Wave(TM)
Phacoemulsification Machine, which the Company believes has more attractive
features than the phaco machines it provided to the cataract products market in
the past. The Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine has 510k approval. The
Company believes that it will receive CE Mark approval in the near future for
the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine and products ancillary to it.

As part of its approach to providing a complete line of complementary
products for use in minimally invasive cataract surgery, the Company also
markets several styles of lens injectors and sterile cartridges used to insert
its IOLs and several styles of disposable and reusable surgical packs and
ultrasonic cutting tips to be used with the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification
Machine.

5
AQUA-FLOW(TM) Glaucoma Device.   The AQUA-FLOW(TM) is a medical device
surgically implanted into the eye to reduce intraocular pressure. It is made of
biocompatible material which, through its porosity and hydrophilic properties,
promotes drainage of excess eye fluid. The AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is specifically
designed for patients suffering from open-angled glaucoma, which is the most
prevalent type of glaucoma. In contrast to trabeculectomies and
trabeculoplasties, implantation of the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device does not require
penetration of the anterior chamber of the eye. Instead, a small flap of the
outer eye tissue is folded back, the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is placed above the
trabecular meshwork and the outer flap is refolded into place. The AQUA-
FLOW(TM) device swells to approximately five to ten times its original size,
and is absorbed within six months to nine months after implantation, creating a
new drainage pathway. The fifteen to forty-five minute surgical procedure to
implant the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is performed under local or topical anesthesia,
typically on an outpatient basis.

Management believes the hydrophilic properties of the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device
and the minimally invasive nature of the surgery offer several advantages over
continued use of drugs and existing surgical procedures, including: (i) greater
efficacy, (ii) a longer-term solution, (iii) reduced risk of surgical
complications, and (iv) cost effectiveness.

The Company believes the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is an attractive product for:
(i) managed care and health maintenance organizations and group purchasing
organizations who desire to control their costs and at the same time provide
their customers with a higher standard of health care; (ii) less developed
countries which lack the resources and infrastructure to provide the continuous
treatments mandated by drug therapy; and (iii) ophthalmic surgeons who have
traditionally referred their patients to glaucoma specialists. Adoption by
ophthalmic surgeons, however, will be dependent upon the rate at which they
learn the advanced skills necessary to perform the surgical procedure or at
which instrumentation is developed to simplify the procedure. The Company will
promote this product by using both training courses and its highly trained
technical sales force to educate surgeons. See "Uncertainties and Risk
Factors - Risks Relating to Commercialization of New Products" in Item 7."

The Company introduced the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device in late 1995 for commercial
sale on a limited basis in South Africa and selected countries in Europe and
South America. In August 1997 the Company received a CE Mark for the AQUA-
FLOW(TM) device, allowing it to be sold in each of the countries comprising the
European Union. In November 1997, the FDA granted the Company an IDE permitting
the Company to conduct a single-phase clinical study and to implant the AQUA-
FLOW(TM) device in 175 patients. The Company, after concluding this study, will
submit a pre-market application to the FDA for approval of the AQUA-FLOW(TM)
device for marketing in the United States. No assurance can be given that the
clinical study will be successful and, if it is successful, as to when or if FDA
approval to sell this product will be obtained. See "Uncertainties and Risk
Factors - Government Regulation and Uncertainty of Product Approval" in Item 7.

Distribution and Customers

The Company maintains a highly trained sales force that works closely with
its customers (primarily surgeons and other health care providers) to educate
them on the benefits of its products, and the skills and techniques needed to
perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. The Company supplements its
direct sales efforts through advertising in medical and trade journals and by
sponsoring surgical procedure courses, seminars and technical presentations
chaired by leading ophthalmologists.

The Company's products are sold domestically through a network of
independent regional manufacturers representatives and their territorial
representatives. International sales are primarily conducted through the
Company's subsidiaries, which sell through direct and independent sales
representatives. In countries where the Company's subsidiaries do not have a
direct presence, sales are conducted through country

6
or independent area medical distributors.

The Company markets its products to ophthalmologists, surgical
centers, hospitals, managed care providers, health maintenance organizations and
group purchasing organizations; no material part of the Company's business,
taken as a whole, is dependent upon a single or a few customers.

Sources and Availability of Manufacturing Materials

The Company principally manufactures its IOLs at its facilities located in
California and Switzerland, and its AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and ICLs(TM)
at its facilities located in Switzerland. Many components of the Company's
products are purchased to its specifications from suppliers or subcontractors.
Most of these components are standard parts available from multiple sources at
competitive prices. The Company presently has one supplier of silicone, the
principal raw material for its IOLs, although it can purchase this raw material
from several distributors. Similarly, certain items used by the Company in its
disposable surgical packs are provided by a single supplier. The Company also
purchases products manufactured by others in the eye care industry. If any of
these supply sources becomes unavailable, the Company believes that it would be
able to secure alternate supply sources within a short period of time and with
minimal or no disruption. The Company's Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine is
being manufactured for the Company by unaffiliated third parties.

Intellectual Property and Licenses

The Company and/or its licensors have pending patent applications and
issued patents in various countries relating specifically to the Company's
products or various aspects thereof, including the Company's core patent (the
"Mazzocco Patent") relating to methods of folding or deforming an IOL or ICL(TM)
for use in minimally invasive surgery. The Mazzocco Patent was granted by the
United States Patent Office in March 1986 to Dr. Thomas Mazzocco, M.D., a
practicing ophthalmologist and a co-founder of the Company. The Company has
since obtained patent protection for the Mazzocco Patent or made application for
such protection in certain foreign countries. The Company has also acquired or
applied for several patents for insertion devices, glaucoma devices and other
products for ophthalmologic use. The Mazzocco Patent will expire in the year
2003. The Mazzocco Patent is of material importance to the cataract products
segment of the market, however, the Company's patent portfolio has expanded so
that the Company is not solely dependent upon the Mazzocco Patent for protection
of its technology in the minimally invasive eye surgery market.

In May 1995, Intersectional Research and Technology Complex Eye
Microsurgery (IRTC) granted an exclusive royalty bearing license to STAAR
Surgical AG to manufacture, use and sell IRTC's glaucoma devices in the United
States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and non-exclusive rights with
respect to the countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (or former
Union of Soviet Socialists Republic) and China. In January 1996, IRTC granted
an exclusive royalty bearing license to STAAR Surgical AG to manufacture, use
and sell implantable contact lenses using IRTC's biocompatible materials in the
United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and non-exclusive rights
with respect to the Commonwealth of Independent States. The terms of these
licenses extend for the life of the patents. In connection with these licenses,
IRTC also assigned to the Company its patent for its biocompatible material,
which the Company uses in manufacturing its ICLs(TM) and some of its IOLs. The
Company has since adopted IRTC's biocompatible material and glaucoma device
design for the Company's AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device, and has incorporated
IRTC's biocompatible materials for use with the Company's proprietary ICL(TM)
design. These patents and the technology rights are of material importance to
the Company's refractive products market segment. Each of these patents will
expire in the year 2009. The Company is continuing to expand its patent
portfolios of refractive and glaucoma products so that it does not become
dependent on the protection afforded by any single patent.

7
The Company has registered the mark "STAAR" and its associated logo with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Company also has common law
trademark rights to a number of other marks and has applied for registration for
a number of these marks.

An adverse decision from a Court of competent jurisdiction affecting the
validity or enforceability of the Company's patents or proprietary rights owned
by or licensed to the Company could have, depending generally on the economic
importance of the country or countries to which such patents or proprietary
rights relate, an adverse effect on the Company and on its business prospects.
Legal costs relating to prosecuting or defending patent infringement litigation
may be substantial. Costs of litigation related to successful prosecution of
patent litigation are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life
of the relevant patent. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to successfully defend its patents and proprietary rights in the future. See
"Uncertainties and Risk Factors - Patents and Proprietary Rights" in Item 7.

The Company has granted licenses to certain of its patents, trade secrets
and technology, including its foldable technology, to other companies for use in
connection with their cataract products. The licenses under the patents extend
for the life of the patents. The licensees include Allergan Medical Optics
("AMO"), Alcon Surgical, Inc. ("Alcon"), Bausch & Lomb Surgical ("Bausch &
Lomb"), Mentor Corporation ("Mentor"), Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. ("Pharmacia &
Upjohn") and Canon STAAR, a joint venture owned equally by the Company and
Canon, Inc. and Canon Sales Co., Inc. Included in some of the licenses granted
are licenses to certain of the Company's foldable patents which were granted on
an exclusive basis to Canon STAAR (for Japan only), on a non-exclusive basis to
Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Mentor and Canon STAAR (with respect to the world other
than Japan), and on a co-exclusive basis to AMO. At the time these licenses
were granted, the Company received substantial pre-payments of royalties on all
but one of the licenses. The pre-payment periods on many of these licenses have
since lapsed or will lapse in the near future. The Company's business strategy
is not dependent upon realizing royalties from these licenses in the future.

Competition

Competition in the medical device field is intense and characterized by
extensive research and development and rapid technological change. Development
by competitors of new or improved products, processes or technologies may make
the Company's products obsolete or less competitive. The Company will be
required to devote continued efforts and significant financial resources to
enhance its existing products and/or develop new products for the ophthalmic
industry. The Company believes that, generally, it competes favorably in its
product markets. See "Uncertainties and Risk Factors - Highly Competitive
Industry; Rapid Technological Change" in Item 7.

The Company's ICL(TM) will face significant competition in the marketplace
from products which improve or correct refractive conditions, such as corrective
eyeglasses and external contact lenses, and particularly from providers of
conventional and laser surgical procedures. This competition results primarily
from the fact that these are products more established in the marketplace and
familiar to patients in need of refractive correction. Furthermore, corrective
eyeglasses and external contact lenses are more easily obtained, in that a
prescription is usually written following a routine eye examination in a
doctor's office, without admitting the patient to a hospital or surgery center.
The Company believes the following providers of laser surgical procedures
comprise its primary competition in the marketplace for patients requiring
refractive corrections: Summit Technology, Inc. ("Summit"), VISX, Incorporated
("VISX"), Sunrise Medical, Bausch & Lomb and Nidek Co., Ltd. Excimer lasers for
photo-refractive keratectomy which are manufactured and marketed by Summit, VISX
and Nidek Co., Ltd. are the only products which have received pre-market
approval from the FDA for sale within the United States. KeraVision, Inc. is
developing the corneal ring, which corrects vision by changing the shape of the
cornea through surgically implanted rings of different shapes and strengths.

8
The Company believes its primary competition in the development and sale of
products used to surgically correct cataracts, namely foldable IOLs and phaco
machines, includes Bausch & Lomb, AMO, Alcon, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and Mentor.
Each of these competitors is a licensee of the Company's foldable technology.
Significant competitors in the hard IOL market include Bausch & Lomb, AMO,
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Alcon and Mentor. These competitors have been established
for longer periods of time than the Company and have significantly greater
resources than the Company, factors which give them the advantages of greater
name recognition and larger sales operations.

The Company's primary competition in the development and sale of products
used to treat glaucoma is from pharmaceutical companies, primarily because drug
therapy is, and for years has been, the accepted treatment for glaucoma. The
portion of this market held by medical devices used to treat glaucoma is
insignificant at present. The Company believes Merck & Company, Inc., Alcon,
Allergan and Bausch & Lomb are the largest providers of drugs used to treat
glaucoma within the United States, and CIBA Vision Corporation, a subsidiary of
CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, Pharmacia & Upjohn and Lederle Laboratories, a
subsidiary of American Home Products, are the largest internationally.

Regulatory Requirements

The Company's products are subject to regulatory approval or clearance in
both the United States and in foreign countries. The following discussion
outlines the various kinds of reviews to which the Company's products or
facilities may be subject.

Clinical Regulatory Requirements Within the United States Most of the
Company's products are subject to regulation as medical devices by the FDA,
requiring FDA approval or clearance before they can be sold within the United
States, and mandating continuous compliance of the Company's manufacturing
facilities and distribution procedures with FDA regulations, including "Good
Manufacturing Practices."

Initial approval or clearance of medical devices for sale is subject to
differing levels or types of FDA review and evaluation depending on the
classification of the device under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act ("FD&C Act")
and whether the use of the medical device can be demonstrated to be
substantially equivalent to a directly related medical device in commerce prior
to May 1976 (the month and year of enactment of the FD&C Act).

Pursuant to the FD&C Act, medical devices are classified as either Class I,
Class II or Class III devices. If classified as a Class I device, the medical
device will be subject only to general controls which are applicable to all
devices. Such controls include regulations regarding FDA inspections of
facilities, "Good Manufacturing Practices," labeling, maintenance of records and
filings with the FDA. If classified as a Class II device, the medical device
must also meet general performance standards established by the FDA. If
classified as a Class III device, the applicant must present sufficient data
derived through clinical studies demonstrating the product's safety, reliability
and effectiveness.

FDA approval for a Class III device begins with the submission of an
application for an Investigational Device Exemption or IDE which, if granted,
will permit the implantation of a limited number of products (typically less
than 100) on a clinical study basis. Based upon the results from the initial
core population, the FDA will then allow one or more additional core studies to
be performed, typically 350 to 500 implants. The complete clinical results will
then be reviewed by an FDA advisory panel of outside experts. If the advisory
panel approves the product based upon the results, the FDA will then generally
grant pre-market approval assuming satisfaction of its other requirements. The
grant of an IDE, the performance of clinical studies, the submission of an
application for pre-market approval, and advisory panel approval, may take three
to ten years depending, in part, upon the complexity and known attributes or
history of the medical device.

9
A medical device that is substantially equivalent to a directly related
medical device previously in commerce may be eligible for abbreviated FDA pre-
market notification "510(k) review" process. The review period and FDA
determination as to substantial equivalence should be made within 90 days of
submission of a 510(k) application, unless additional information or
clarification or clinical studies are requested or required by the FDA. As a
practical matter, the review process and FDA determination often take
significantly longer than 90 days. FDA 510(k) clearance is a "grandfather"
process. As such, FDA clearance does not imply that the safety, reliability and
effectiveness of the medical device has been approved or validated by the FDA,
but merely means that the medical device is substantially equivalent to a
previously cleared commercially-related medical device.

The Company's IOLs, ICLs(TM), lens injectors and AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma
device are Class III devices, and its Phaco equipment, ultrasonic cutting tips
and surgical packs are Class II devices. The Company has received FDA pre-
market approval for its IOLs (including the Toric(TM) IOL), and FDA 510(k)
clearance for its phacoemulsification equipment, lens injectors, ultrasonic
cutting tips and surgical packs. The Company is presently conducting clinical
studies under an IDE for the ICL(TM) (during 1998 the Company began Phase III of
the clinical study relating to the myopic lens and during 1999 the Company
expects to begin Phase III of the clinical study for the hyperopic lens) and its
AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device (single phase).

The Company is also subject to mandatory Medical Device Reporting ("MDR")
regulations which obligate the Company to provide information to the FDA on
injuries alleged to have been associated with the use of a product or in
connection with certain product failures which could cause injury.

Clinical Regulatory Requirements in Foreign Countries There is a wide
variation in the approval or clearance requirements necessary to market products
in foreign countries. The requirements range from virtually no requirements to
a level comparable to or even greater than those of the FDA. For example, many
countries in South America have minimal regulatory requirements, while many
developed countries, such as Japan, have requirements at least as stringent as
those of the FDA. FDA acceptance is not always a substitute for foreign
government approval or clearance.

As of June 14, 1998 the member countries of the European Economic Union
(the "Union") require that all medical products which are sold within their
borders carry a Conformite' Europeenne Mark (CE Mark). The CE Mark denotes that
the applicable medical device has been found to be in compliance with guidelines
concerning manufacturing and quality control, technical specifications and
biological/chemical and clinical safety. The CE Mark supersedes all current
medical device regulatory requirements for Union countries. The Company has
obtained the CE Mark for all of its principal products (with the exception of
the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine), including its ICLs(TM), IOLs
(including the Toric(TM) IOL), and AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device.

Other Regulatory Requirements Sales of the Company's products may be
affected by health care reimbursement practices. For example, in January 1994,
the Health Care Financing Administration ("HCFA") adopted rules that limit
Medicare reimbursement for IOLs implanted in ambulatory surgical centers to a
flat fee of $150. HCFA's Medicare reimbursement rate for IOLs implanted in
hospitals was set at $150 plus 50% of cost.

The Company is also subject to various federal, state and local laws
applicable to its operations including, among other things, working conditions,
laboratory and manufacturing practices, and the use and disposal of hazardous or
potentially hazardous substances used in connection with research work. The
extent of government regulation which might result from future legislation or
administrative action and the potential adverse impact on the Company cannot be
accurately predicted.

Research and Development

10
The Company is focused on furthering technological advancements in the
ophthalmic products industry through continuous development and innovation of
ophthalmic products and materials and related surgical techniques to promote
these products. The Company maintains an active internal research and
development program comprised of 20 employees. Over the past year, the Company
has principally focused its research and development efforts on: (i) developing
the Company's ICLs(TM), AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and Toric(TM) lenses, for
both IOLs and ICLs(TM),; (ii) improving insertion and delivery systems for the
Company's foldable products; and (iii) generally improving the manufacturing
systems and procedures for all products to reduce manufacturing costs. Research
and development expenses amounted to approximately $3,570,000, $3,936,000 and
$4,085,000 for the Company's 1998, 1997 and 1996 fiscal years, respectively.

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to federal, state, local and foreign
environmental laws and regulations. The Company believes that its operations
comply in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and
regulations in each country where the Company has a business presence. Although
the Company makes capital expenditures for environmental protection when
required, it does not anticipate any significant expenditures in order to comply
with such laws and regulations which would have a material impact on the
Company's capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. The Company
is not aware of any pending litigation or significant financial obligations
arising from current or past environmental practices that are likely to have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial position. There can be no
assurance, however, that environmental problems relating to properties operated
by the Company will not develop in the future, and the Company cannot predict
whether any such problems, if they were to develop, could require significant
expenditures on the part of the Company. In addition, the Company is unable to
predict what legislation or regulations may be adopted or enacted in the future
with respect to environment protection and waste disposal.

Significant Subsidiaries

The Company's only significant subsidiary is STAAR Surgical AG, a wholly
owned subsidiary formed in Switzerland to develop, manufacture and distribute
worldwide certain of the Company's products, including the ICLs(TM) and its
AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device. The Company and STAAR Surgical AG have also
formed or acquired a number of direct or indirect owned subsidiaries to
distribute and market the Company's products in selected foreign countries.
STAAR Surgical AG also controls 60% of a major European sales subsidiary which
distributes both the Company's products and products from various other
manufacturers.

Employees

The Company and its subsidiaries had a total of 270 employees as of January
1, 1999, including 40 in administration, 90 in marketing and sales, 20 in
research and development and technical services and 120 in manufacturing,
quality control and shipping.

Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic Operations And Export Sales

Approximately $25,348,000, $30,397,000 and $29,069,000 in the Company's
overall revenues were generated in the United States for its 1998, 1997 and 1996
fiscal years, respectively, constituting approximately 46% 67% and 69% of its
overall revenues for such fiscal years, respectively. The Company believes that
international markets represent a significant opportunity for continued growth.
Europe, which is the Company's principal foreign market, generated approximately
$24,099,000 $8,924,000 and $8,576,000 in revenues for the Company's 1998, 1997
and 1996 fiscal years, respectively, constituting approximately 43%, 20% and
20% of the Company's overall revenues for such respective fiscal years. The
balance of the
11
Company's foreign sales were distributed among the Asian/Pacific, Middle
Eastern, South African and South American geographic areas. Most all products
sold in 1998 were manufactured in the United States. See Note 16 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

The Company's executive offices and its principal manufacturing and
warehouse facilities are located at 1911 Walker Avenue, Monrovia, California.
STAAR Surgical AG maintains executive offices and manufacturing and warehouse
facilities at Hauptstrasse 104, Nidau, Switzerland. The Company also maintains
complete laboratory facilities in each of its Monrovia and Nidau facilities.
Certain of the Company's sales subsidiaries also lease office facilities to
facilitate their distribution activities.

The Company owns no real property. The Company's Monrovia, California
facilities consist of leased industrial buildings of approximately 92,000 square
feet. The leases expire between 1999 and 2002, and currently require aggregate
payments of approximately $38,000 per month. STAAR Surgical AG's facilities in
Nidau, Switzerland consist of a leased industrial building of approximately
11,000 square feet. The lease expires in 2000, and currently requires payments
of approximately $12,000 per month. The Company believes its properties to be
adequate for its current business plans.

ITEM 3. PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter
ended January 1, 1999.

PART II
-------

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER
MATTERS

The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation ("Nasdaq") National Market under the
symbol "STAA." The following table sets forth the reported high and low sale
prices of the Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq for the calendar periods
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period High Low
------ ---- ---
<S> <C> <C>
1998: Fourth Quarter $10.000 $ 6.875
Third Quarter 14.500 6.250
Second Quarter 16.063 10.250
First Quarter 17.625 14.438

1997: Fourth Quarter $18.625 $14.375
Third Quarter 18.125 10.500
</TABLE>

12
<TABLE>

<S> <C> <C>
Second Quarter 14.125 9.625
First Quarter 14.125 9.875
</TABLE>

The last reported sale price for the Company's Common Stock on the Nasdaq
National Market on March 30, 1999 was $7.75 per share. As of March 30, 1999,
there were approximately 1,022 record holders of the Common Stock.

The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock since its
inception. The Company currently anticipates that all income will be retained
to develop further the Company's business and that no cash dividends on the
Common Stock will be declared in the foreseeable future.

ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data of the
Company with respect to the Company's five most recent fiscal years ended
January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997, December 29, 1995, and
December 30, 1994. The selected consolidated statement of income data set
forth below for each of the Company's three most recent fiscal years, and the
selected consolidated balance sheet data set forth below at January 1, 1999 and
January 2, 1998, are derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Company which have been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as indicated in their report which is included elsewhere in
this Annual Report. The selected consolidated statement of income data set
forth below for each of the two fiscal years in the periods ended December 29,
1995, and December 30, 1994 and the consolidated balance sheet data set forth
below at January 3, 1997, December 29, 1995, and December 30, 1994, are derived
from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements not included in
this Annual Report. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, and the
Notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report, and ``Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in
Item 7.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended
--------------------------------------------------------
January January January December December
1, 2, 3, 29, 30,
1999 1998 1997 1995 1994
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(In thousands, except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Statement of Income Data:
Sales................................................. $54,244 $42,480 $41,213 $34,180 $26,333
Royalty and other income.............................. 899 3,040 1,000 514 1,020
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total revenues..................................... 55,143 45,520 42,213 34,694 27,353
Cost of sales......................................... 18,533 10,262 10,196 8,441 6,059
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Gross profit....................................... 36,610 35,258 32,017 26,253 21,294
Selling general and administrative
General and administrative......................... 6,770 6,334 5,628 5,000 4,365
Marketing and selling.............................. 18,709 12,719 12,227 10,911 8,694
Research and development........................... 3,570 3,936 4,085 3,254 2,718
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total selling general and administrative........ 29,049 22,989 21,940 19,165 15,777
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Operating income...................................... 7,561 12,269 10,077 7,088 5,517
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total other income (expense).................... (763) (579) 153 303 625
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income before income taxes, minority interest and
cumulative effect of change in accounting method...... 6,798 11,690 10,230 7,391 6,142

Income tax provision (benefit)(1)..................... 1,999 4,271 3,339 (91) (2,184)
Minority Interest..................................... 662 - - - -
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net income before accounting change................... 4,137 7,419 6,891 7,482 8,326
Cumulative effect of accounting change................ (1,680) - - - -
</TABLE>

13
<TABLE>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net income............................................ $ 2,457 $ 7,419 $ 6,891 $ 7,482 $ 8,326
======= ======= ======= ======= =======

Diluted income per share before effect of change...... $ 0.29 $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.55 $ 0.63
in accounting method................................. ======= ======= ======= ======= =======

Basic net income per share............................ $ 0.18 $ 0.57 $ 0.53 $ 0.59 $ 0.67
======= ======= ======= ======= =======

Diluted net income per share.......................... $ 0.17 $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.55 $ 0.63
======= ======= ======= ======= =======

Weighted average number of basic shares............... 13,542 13,124 12,910 12,756 12,514
Weighted average number of diluted shares............. 14,268 14,113 13,867 13,679 13,170


Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital....................................... $26,925 $24,936 $15,000 $16,335 $14,166
Total assets.......................................... 73,290 62,391 52,056 38,803 28,888
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt... 2,312 1,608 8,193 4,029 1,792
Long-term debt........................................ 10,021 5,750 844 1,212 572
Stockholders' equity.................................. 47,706 44,783 36,604 28,678 22,029

</TABLE>
(1) Includes recognition of deferred tax asset of $2.4 million for 1994 and
$900,000 for 1995.

The following table sets forth unaudited operating data for each of the
specified quarters of the fiscal years ended January 2, 1998 and January 1,
1999. This quarterly information has been prepared on the same basis as the
annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management,
contains all adjustments necessary to state fairly the information set forth
herein. The sum of the four quarters earnings per share may not agree to the
fiscal year earnings per share due to rounding. The unaudited quarterly
financial data presented below has not been subject to a review of BDO Seidman,
LLP, the Company's independent certified public accountants.

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
For the Fiscal Year Ended First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
January 1, 1999
(in thousands except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues $14,101 $13,983 $12,901 $14,158
Gross Profit 9,817 10,155 8,323 8,315
Income Before Accounting Change 1,675 1,523 398(1) 591
Basic Income Per Share 0.13 0.11 0.03(1) 0.04
Diluted Income Per Share 0.12 0.11 0.03(1) 0.04


For the Fiscal Year Ended
January 2, 1998

Revenues $10,555 $11,584 $11,825 $11,556
Gross Profit 8,095 8,889 9,065 9,209
Net Income 1,749 1,953 2,064 1.653
Basic Income Per Share 0.13 0.15 0.16 0.13
Diluted Income Per Share 0.13 0.14 0.14 0.12
</TABLE>
(1) Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method for start-up
costs.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

14
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the percentage of total revenues represented
by certain items reflected in the Company's income statement for the period
indicated and the percentage increase or decrease in such items over the prior
period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage of Total Revenues Percentage Change
--------------------------------- ---------------------
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
January January January 1997 1996
1, 2, 3, vs. vs.
1999 1998 1997 1998 1997
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total revenues........................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 21.1% 7.8%
Cost of sales............................................ 33.6 22.5 24.2 80.6 0.7
----- ----- -----
Gross profit............................................. 66.4 77.5 75.8 3.8 10.1
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative............................ 12.3 13.9 13.3 6.9 12.5

Marketing and selling.................................... 33.9 27.9 29.0 47.1 4.0
Research and development................................. 6.5 8.6 9.7 (9.3) (3.6)
----- ----- -----
Total costs and expenses.............................. 52.7 50.5 52.0 26.4 4.8
Operating income......................................... 13.7 27.0 23.9 (38.4) 21.7
----- ----- -----
Other expense, net....................................... (1.4) (1.3) 0.4 31.7 -
----- ----- -----
Income before income taxes............................... 12.3 25.7 24.2 (41.8) 14.3
Income tax provision..................................... 3.6 9.4 7.9 ( 20.3) 27.9

Minority interest........................................ 1.2 - - 100.0 -
Accounting change-write-off of startup costs............. 3.0 - - 100.0 -
----- ----- -----
Net income............................................... 4.5% 16.3% 16.3% (66.9) 7.7%
===== ===== =====
</TABLE>

15
1998 Fiscal Year Compared to 1997 Fiscal Year

Revenues. Revenues for the year ended January 1, 1999 were $55.1 million,
representing a 21.1% increase over the $45.5 million in revenues for the year
ended January 2, 1998. The primary reason for the increase in revenues were the
acquisitions, in 1997 and early 1998, of European sales subsidiaries of
ophthalmic products. Incremental revenues from these subsidiaries represented
approximately $18.2 million. This increase in revenues was offset by a
reduction of approximately $3.2 million dollars in sales in the United States as
a result of the introduction by a competitor of a multi-focal IOL, a reduction
in sales to Asia of approximately $.8 million as a result of the Asian monetary
crisis, a reduction in European sales totaling approximately $1.1 million which
occurred because a large distributor of the Company's products purchased his
1998 requirements in 1997, and a reduction of approximately $2.2 million in
royalties and other revenues earned by the Company.

With the acquisitions of sales subsidiaries in 1997 and early 1998, the mix
of products sold by the Company changed. Prior to acquisition of the
subsidiaries, sales of products manufactured by the Company made up more than
92% of all products sold by the Company in 1997. In 1998, after acquisition of
the subsidiaries, the Company's products made up approximately 67% of total
revenues, while lenses manufactured by others made up approximately 17% of total
revenues and instruments and equipment manufactured by others made up
approximately 13% of total revenues. The lenses, instruments and equipment
purchased from other manufacturers typically have lower margins.

In 1998 the Company began expanding its market focus beyond the cataract
market to also include the refractive and glaucoma markets. The Company
anticipates its growth in the refractive and glaucoma product markets will
increase significantly as the Company's refractive lenses (ICL(TM) and Toric(TM)
IOL) and its glaucoma (AQUA-FLOW(TM)) product lines continue to gain market
acceptance. The Company believes its sales of products used for the treatment
of cataracts will grow with new sales subsidiaries, new products such as its
Collamer(TM) IOL, the new WAVE(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine and its newly
acquired access to lines of IOLs, equipment and instruments from other
manufactures.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased to 33.6% of revenue for the year
ended January 1, 1999 from 22.5% of revenue for the year ended January 2, 1998.
The primary reason for this 11.1% increase relates to the increase in sales of
IOLs, ophthalmic instruments and equipment manufactured by others, as set forth
above in "Revenues." The Company's objective for the future will be to sell
more of the refractive products it manufactures and to use its recently acquired
sales subsidiaries to move into the marketplace more of its instruments and
equipment. Management believes it can reduce costs of sales by selling more of
its refractive products and/or by purchasing in larger quantities the
instruments and equipment. The Company will not be able to reduce the costs of
sales to levels attained in 1997 and prior years until sales of its refractive
lenses and its AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device make up a larger percent of the
Company's overall revenues.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expense for the
year ended January 1, 1999 was $6.8 million, or 12.3% of revenues, as compared
to $6.3 million, or 13.9% of revenues for the prior fiscal year. This increase
in dollars is primarily attributable to two factors, namely retaining the
services of a product manager for the AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and travel
and other expenses resulting from managing the new sales subsidiaries. The
decrease as a percent of revenues was due to the increase in revenues.

Marketing and Selling. Marketing and selling expense for the year ended
January 1, 1999 was $18.7 million or 33.9% of revenues, as compared to $12.7
million or 27.9% of revenues for the prior fiscal year. The primary reason for
this increase in dollars and percentages was the addition, during 1997 and early
1998, of the sales subsidiaries, which added more than $18.2 million in revenues
for the 1998 fiscal year, and costs related to the launch, in the United States,
of the Toric(TM) IOL.

Research and Development. Research and development expense for the year
ended January 1, 1999

16
was $3.6 million, or 6.5% of revenues as compared to $3.9 million or 8.6% of
revenues for the year ended January 2, 1998. Research and development expense
has remained fairly consistent over the past four years in the range of $3.3
million to $4.1 million range. The reason for the decrease in the 1998 fiscal
year was the completion of research and development for several of the Company's
new products, which was offset by increased spending related to monitoring the
clinical trials for the Toric(TM) IOL, the Collamer(TM) IOL, the ICL(TM) and the
AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device.

Other Expense or Income, Net. Other expense for the year ended January 1,
1999 was a net of approximately $ .8 million or 1.4% of revenues as compared to
approximately $ .6 million or 1.3% of revenues for the prior year. The primary
causes for the increase in other expense over the prior year were increased
amortization expenses and royalty expense offset by decreased exchange losses
and increased earnings from the Company's joint venture.

Income Tax Provision. Income tax provision decreased to $2.0 million or
3.6% of revenues for the year ended January 1, 1999 compared to $4.3 million or
9.4 % of revenues for the prior fiscal year. The reasons for the reduction stem
from the Company's receipt of more than 50% of its revenues from international
sources, where tax rates are more favorable, and the cumulative effect of
accounting changes for costs associated with the launch of new products
(referred to herein as "start-up costs") which were written off in the third
quarter of 1998, thereby resulting in the Company's recognition of less income
from United States sources.

Start-Up Costs

Effective September 30, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Position
98-5 "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities" (SOP 98-5) issued by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. SOP 98-5 requires that the
costs of start-up activities, including organization costs, be expensed as
incurred. Start-up activities are defined broadly as those one-time activities
related to opening a new facility, introducing a new product or service,
conducting business in a new territory, conducting business with a new class of
customer, initiating a new process in an existing facility, or commencing some
new operation.

Although SOP 98-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 1998, earlier application is encouraged. Accordingly, the Company elected
early application and wrote-off the $1.7 million (net of tax benefit) of
start-up costs that had been previously capitalized. In accordance with SOP
98-5, the write-off of such costs is being reported as a cumulative effect of
change in accounting method. Also, in accordance with SOP 98-5, prior periods
have not been restated.

1997 Fiscal Year Compared To 1996 Fiscal Year

Revenues. Revenues for the year ended January 2, 1998 were $45.5 million,
representing a 7.8% increase over $42.2 million in revenues for the prior year
ended January 3, 1997. The increase in revenues was principally attributable
to: (i) an increase in royalty payments, primarily due to a payment by a
licensee of past royalties; and (ii) increased sales of the Company's new
products and increased international sales of the Company's IOLs, partially
offset by domestic and international price decreases. Royalty revenues
increased from $1.0 million to $3.0 million. Revenues from the sale of the
Company's new products, principally its ICLs(TM), AQUA-FLOW(TM) and new IOL
products including the TORIC(TM) IOL, increased to $2.2 million in fiscal 1997
from $660,000 in fiscal 1996. International sales of IOLs in fiscal 1997
increased by 38% in unit volume, and by $1.6 million in dollar terms, over the
prior fiscal year, respectively. Total international sales increased to 35% of
total revenues for the 1997 fiscal year, as compared to 30% of total revenues
for the prior fiscal year, reflecting the Company's ongoing efforts to develop
international markets as well as the conversion of these markets to foldable
IOLs. Increases in sales of IOLs in unit volume were partially offset by an
average price decrease for IOLs of nearly 10%, as a result of competitive
pressures, both domestically and internationally.

Cost of Sales. Due primarily to additional royalty income and also
continued manufacturing efficiencies, cost of sales as a percentage of revenues
for the year ended January 2, 1998 declined to 22.5% of revenues as compared to
24.2% for the prior fiscal year. This reduction was effectuated notwithstanding
price decreases resulting from competitive pressures and a product mix change
due to an increased demand for the ELASTIMIDE(TM) IOL (which is more expensive
to manufacture than the ELASTIC(TM) model).

General and Administrative. General and administrative expense for the
year ended January 2, 1998 was $6.3 million, or 13.9% of revenues, as compared
to $5.6 million, or 13.3% or revenues, for the prior fiscal year. The increase
in general and administrative expense, both in dollars and as a percentage of
revenues, was attributable to additional administrative infrastructure
expenditures required to support the increase in revenues and costs related to
investor relations.

Marketing and Selling. Marketing and selling expense for the year ended
January 2, 1998 was $12.7 million, or 27.9% of revenues, as compared to $12.2
million, or 29.0% of revenues, for the prior fiscal year.

17
The decline in marketing and selling expense as a percentage of revenues was
attributable to the significant growth in overall revenues permitting greater
absorption of fixed marketing and selling (i.e., non-commission) costs. The
increase in marketing and selling expense in dollars was principally
attributable to additional selling and marketing expenses arising from the
operations of the Company's new European sales subsidiaries.

Research and Development. Research and development expense for the year
ended January 2, 1998 was $3.9 million, or 8.6% of revenues, as compared to $4.1
million, or 9.7% of revenues, for the prior fiscal year. These expenditures
were attributable to the Company's continued investment in developing new
products, manufacturing systems and distribution systems, cost reduction
projects for manufacturing, and increased costs incurred conducting clinical
studies in the United States.

Other Expense or Income, Net. Other expense for the year ended January 2,
1998 was $579,000, or 1.3% of revenues, as compared to other income of $153,000,
or 0.4% of revenues, for the prior fiscal year. The primary reasons for the
overall increase in other expenses over income were increased interest expense,
and losses in translating foreign currency.

Income Tax Provision. Income taxes increased to a provision of $4.3
million for the year ended January 2, 1998, as compared to a provision of $3.3
million for the prior fiscal year. The Company's tax rate increased from a rate
of 32.6% in fiscal 1996 to a rate of 36.5% for fiscal 1997, primarily due to a
greater percentage of income before taxes being subject to taxation at the
higher United States 40% combined federal and state marginal tax rate. During
fiscal 1997 the Company utilized all of its remaining tax operating loss
carryforwards for federal income tax purposes. See Note 7 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.

As a result of the Company's positive operating results for each of
the three years ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, the
Company determined that deferred tax assets of $1.2 million and $2.3 million
should be recognized as of January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997. These amounts
were based on a consideration of current and future anticipated earnings.
Future income levels should result in full recognition of the deferred tax
assets. The amount recorded as of January 3, 1997 includes the capitalization
of the remaining balance of the Company net operating loss carryforwards.
Management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will
be realized in full.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has funded its activities over the past several years
principally from cash flow generated from operations, credit facilities provided
by institutional domestic and foreign lenders, and the exercise of stock options
and warrants.

The Company's principal domestic credit facility is a line of credit
originally entered into on a secured basis in June 1996, and refinanced on an
unsecured basis in June 1997 and again in June 1998, which currently allows the
Company to borrow up to $10.0 million on a revolving basis, at a rate of
interest not to exceed the prime interest rate, less 0.5% (or, at the election
of the Company, if more than $500,000 is outstanding, at a rate of interest
equal to LIBOR, plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.75%, depending on the Company's
funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
coverage ratio). This line of credit expires in June 2001. The underlying loan
agreement requires the Company to satisfy certain financial tests, and limits
the amount of indebtedness the Company may incur to others. Borrowings
outstanding as of January 1, 1999 were approximately $6.9 million.

In November 1997, the Company's domestic lender supplemented the
Company's domestic credit facility by committing through March 31, 1998 to make
additional advances to the Company of up to $5 million for business
acquisitions. The Company borrowed $4.4 million from this facility in 1998 for
the purchase of a European sales subsidiary. Any principal amounts borrowed
pursuant to this commitment would be repaid in monthly installments of principal
of $83,334 until such amounts were repaid. Interest on any such

18
principal amounts borrowed will be payable monthly at a rate of interest not to
exceed the prime interest rate, less 0.25% (or, at the election of the Company,
if more than $100,000 is outstanding, at a rate of interest equal to LIBOR, plus
1.75%). The underlying loan agreement requires the Company to satisfy certain
financial tests, and limits the amount of indebtedness the Company may incur to
others. The principal amount outstanding as of January 1, 1999 was approximately
$3.6 million.

The Company's foreign credit facility consists of a separate revolving line
of credit and a term loan extended in May 1994 by a Swiss bank to the Company's
subsidiary, STAAR Surgical AG. The revolving line of credit facility provides
for borrowings up to $796,000 (1.1 million Swiss Francs) at a 5.0% rate of
interest as of January 1, 1999. A commission rate of 0.25% is payable each
quarter. The line of credit does not have a termination date and is secured by
a general assignment of claims. Borrowings outstanding as of January 1, 1999
under the line of credit were approximately $1,000,000. Under the term loan,
STAAR Surgical AG obtained a $796,000 (1.1 million Swiss Francs) loan guaranteed
partially by the Swiss government and partially by the Company. Interest on
this loan is 6.25%, which the Company shares on an equal basis with the bank and
the Swiss government. The principal amount of this loan was required to be
repaid in four equal annual installments, beginning in December 1996.
Borrowings outstanding at January 1, 1999 were approximately $214,000.

As of January 1, 1999, the Company had net working capital of approximately
$26.9 million, as compared to $24.9 million and $15.0 million as of January 2,
1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively. Excluding the impact of working capital
received by way of the Company's acquisition of a 60% interest in a European
sales subsidiary, working capital increased $2.0 million. The increase in
working capital was primarily attributable to increases in inventories of $2.1
million, prepaids and other assets of $ .7 million, accounts receivable of $ .7
million, offset by a decrease in cash of $1.6 million and the net impact of the
collection of a $3.3 million royalty receivable and the recording of a $1.4
million income tax refund receivable. The Company's net working capital was
further impacted by decreases in other current liabilities of $1.7 million and
accounts payable of $ .7 million.

As of January 1, 1999, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
approximately $4.7 million, as compared to $6.3 million and $6.5 million as of
January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively. The decline in the Company's
cash position for the year ended January 1, 1999 was attributable to the
decrease in cash provided by operations. The slight decline in the Company's
cash position for the year ended January 2, 1998 was primarily attributable to
the increase in the effect of exchange rate changes in cash and cash
equivalents.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended January 1, 1999
were approximately $4.3 million, a decrease of approximately $3.3 million from
the prior fiscal year. The decrease in cash flow from operating activities was
principally attributable to lower net income of approximately $5.0 million
offset by increased depreciation, amortization and the write-off of start-up
costs. Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended January 2, 1998
were approximately $7.6 million, a decrease of approximately $1.7 million from
the prior fiscal year. The decrease in cash flow from operating activities was
principally attributable to a $3.9 million change in operating working capital
offset by a $550,000 increase in amortization of patents, licenses and other
intangibles, and full utilization of a $1.3 million increase in deferred income
taxes.

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended January 1, 1999 was
$10.1 million, representing an increase of approximately $2.7 million relative
to the year ended January 2, 1998. This increase was due primarily to the
acquisition of a 60% interest in a European sales subsidiary. Cash used in
investing activities for the year ended January 2, 1998 was $7.4 million,
representing a decrease of approximately $3.6 million relative to the year ended
January 3, 1997. This decrease was due primarily to a $1.4 million decrease in
the acquisition of property, plant and equipment and a $2.7 million decrease in
the acquisition of patents and licenses, partially offset by a $590,000 increase
in other assets.

19
Cash flows from financing activities for the year ended January 1, 1999
were $4.1 million, representing an increase of approximately $4.0 million. This
increase was principally attributable to the loan obtained by the Company to
acquire a 60% interest in a European sales subsidiary. Cash flows from
financing activities for the year ended January 2, 1998 were $123,000,
representing a decrease of approximately $4.4 million relative to the year ended
January 3, 1997. This decrease was principally attributable to a $2.4 million
decrease in borrowings and a $2.1 million increase in payments on notes payable
and long-term debt.

The Company's capital expenditures for the fiscal years ended January 1,
1999 and January 2, 1998 were approximately $2.0 million and $2.8 million,
respectively. All expenditures were used to upgrade existing production
equipment, to set up new production facilities for new products, and to reduce
current manufacturing costs. The Company's planned capital expenditures for
1999 are approximately $2.0 million, to be used primarily to improve and expand
the Company's manufacturing capacity for the foldable IOL, ICL(TM) and AQUA-
FLOW(TM) glaucoma device, which the Company anticipates will ultimately reduce
manufacturing costs.

Capitalized additions for patents and licenses for the fiscal years ended
January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998 were approximately $2.0 million and $3.2
million, respectively. The Company capitalizes the costs of acquiring patents
and licenses as well as the legal costs of defending its rights to these
patents. The Company expects to spend approximately $1.5 million in 1999 for
patents and licenses.

Management believes that cash flow from operations and available credit
facilities, together with its current cash balances, will provide adequate
financial resources to finance an increase in the level of the Company's
operations, including capital expenditures, acquisitions and research and
development activities, for the foreseeable future. Should additional funding
be needed, such as for significantly increased levels of operations, the Company
believes, so long as the financial position of the Company remains constant,
that these funds could be obtained through borrowings or a secondary public
offering.

Foreign Exchange

Management does not believe that the fluctuation in the value of the dollar
in relation to the currencies of its suppliers or customers in the last three
fiscal years has adversely affected the Company's ability to purchase or sell
products at agreed upon prices. No assurance can be given, however, that
adverse currency exchange rate fluctuations will not occur in the future, which
would affect the Company's operating results. See "Uncertainties and Risk
Factors-Risks Associated with International Transactions" below.

Inflation

Management believes inflation has not had a significant impact on the
Company's operations during the past three years.

Year 2000 Compliance

The Company's management understands the importance of identifying and
addressing Year 2000 compliance issues and has placed a high priority on this
project. Accordingly, the Company's Year 2000 efforts are guided by a special
Year 2000 Steering Committee which reports to the President of the Company. The
Steering Committee is made up of designees from each department within the
Company and includes representatives of its foreign subsidiaries. The Committee
meets on a regular basis to discuss the progress of each department in achieving
its Year 2000 goals and to discuss new information.

The Company has developed a comprehensive plan for achieving Year 2000
compliance that is consistent with the five-step process prescribed by federal
regulators as follows:

20
.   Awareness - Creating and maintaining awareness of the Company's
Year 2000 effort at all levels of the organization.

. Assessment - Determining which computers, operating systems,
applications, machinery and equipment, and facilities are impacted
and prioritizing the remediation effort.

. Renovation - Fixing any problems.

. Validation - Testing and certification (which is expected to be
complete by the end of April 1999).

. Implementation - Implementation of validated systems (which is
expected to be completed by June 1999).

The Company's principal computer hardware used by its business application
systems has been certified to be Year 2000 compliant by the vendor, Hewlett-
Packard. The Company's principal internal operating systems are UNIX/Unidata
based. These systems use a sequentially incremented integer to store the date
beginning with a day 1 of January 1, 1968. Therefore, the date logic of these
systems had few Year 2000 related problems, the vendor has addressed such
problems and the Company has upgraded its systems to a Year 2000 certified
version. The Company's principal business application software is a modified
version of one purchased from a third party. The Company's personnel have
assessed, modified and installed the modified programs into a test environment.
Testing by the Company's information system personnel is complete, including
advancing the system date to the Year 2000, and all programs functioned as
expected. The Company has recently successfully completed user testing of all
mission critical programs. Testing will continue with installation of the
programs in the United States scheduled for the second quarter of 1999. These
same systems and programs are used by the majority of the Company's subsidiaries
and those installations are scheduled to be complete during the third quarter of
1999. In general, the Company is ahead of its schedule for this project and has
met all internal milestones. For those subsidiaries using other systems, either
those systems have been certified as Year 2000 compliant or plans are in place
to upgrade or replace with the Company's principal system.

In addition to reviewing its internal systems, the Company is contacting
certain suppliers, vendors, and other providers of goods and services to
determine their ability to do business in the Year 2000 and have included Year
2000 considerations in the vendor selection and certification process. The
Company expects this process to be ongoing as companies progress with their own
Year 2000 issues. In any event, contingency plans are being developed in the
event that the Year 2000 does impact critical suppliers or vendors.

The Company's costs of achieving Year 2000 compliance to date have been
immaterial to financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The
Company does not anticipate that additional amounts incurred in connection with
its Year 2000 compliance program will be material to its financial conditions or
results of operations.

Due to the uncertainties involved, the Company cannot predict the impact of
the Year 2000 on its operations. Achieving Year 2000 compliance is dependent on
may factors, some of which are not within the Company's control, including,
without limitation, the continuity of services provided by the government,
utilities, transportation industry and other service providers. Should one of
these systems fail, or should the Company's internal systems or the internal
systems of one or more significant vendors or suppliers fail to achieve Year
2000 compliance, the Company's business and its results of operations could be
adversely affected.

21
Uncertainties and Risk Factors

The Company may be subject to a number of significant uncertainties and
risks including, without limitation and without purporting to be a complete or
exhaustive list, those described below and those described elsewhere in this
Annual Report, which may ultimately affect the Company in a manner and to a
degree which cannot be foreseen at this time.

Risks Relating to Commercialization of New Products. The extent and pace
of market acceptance of the Company's new products, including its AQUA-FLOW(TM)
glaucoma device, and ICL(TM), will be a function of many variables, including
the following: the efficacy, performance and attributes of such new products;
the ability of the Company to obtain necessary regulatory approvals to
commercially market such new products; the effectiveness of the Company's
marketing and sales efforts, including educating ophthalmologists and other
potential customers as to the distinctive characteristics and benefits of these
new products; the rate at which ophthalmologists attain the necessary surgical
skills to implant these new products; the ability of the Company to meet
manufacturing and delivery schedules; and product pricing. The extent and pace
of market acceptance will also depend upon general economic conditions affecting
customers' purchasing patterns. As the AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and
ICL(TM) are new medical devices, there is a material risk that the marketplace
may not accept, or be receptive to, the potential benefits of these new
products. Unless and until these new products are accepted by the market and
generating meaningful revenues and profits, the Company's financial condition
and prospects will continue to be solely dependent upon its line of cataract
products. See "Uncertainties and Risk Factors Government Regulation and
Uncertainty of Product Approval" and "Business Products."

Highly Competitive Industry; Rapid Technological Change. Competition in
the ophthalmic industry is intense and characterized by extensive research and
development and rapid technological change. The Company has licensed certain of
its patents and technologies relating to its cataract products to competitors.
Many of the Company's current and prospective competitors have greater
financial, technical and marketing resources and trade name recognition than the
Company, which may enable them to successfully develop and/or market products
based on technologies or approaches similar to those of the Company, or develop
products based on other technologies or approaches, which are, or may be,
competitive with the Company's products. Development by competitors of new or
improved products, processes or technologies may make the Company's products
less competitive or obsolete. The Company will be required to devote
significant financial and other resources to enhance its existing products and
develop new products for the ophthalmic industry. Competitive pressures could
lead to a decline in sales volumes of existing products, the inability to attain
sufficient market penetration for new products, or price reductions, any or all
of which could adversely affect the Company's operating and financial results.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully
in the industry, particularly in view of rapid technological change. See
"Business Competition".

Government Regulation and Uncertainty of Product Approval. The
manufacture and sale of the Company's products are subject to extensive
international and domestic regulation. In order to sell these products within
the United States, clearance or approval from the FDA is required. The FDA
clearance or approval process is expensive and time consuming, and no assurance
can be given that any of the Company's products which have not received FDA
clearance or approval to date will obtain such FDA clearance or approval on a
timely basis or at all, or without delays adversely affecting the marketing and
sale of the Company's products. Foreign regulatory requirements differ from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may, in some cases, be more stringent or
difficult to obtain than FDA clearance or approval. In order to sell products
in the countries comprising the European Economic Union, the Company must
satisfy certain Union-wide regulatory requirements, notwithstanding the
Company's previous receipt of approvals from member countries. No assurance can
be given that the Company will obtain such regulatory approvals on a timely
basis or at all, or without delays adversely affecting the marketing and sale of
the Company's products. In addition,

22
clearances or approvals that have been or may be granted are subject to
continual review, which could result in product labeling restrictions,
withdrawal of products from the market or other adverse consequences.

To date, the Company has conducted clinical studies in certain foreign
countries, and is in the process of conducting clinical studies in the United
States, on the feasibility of (i) using the AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device for
the treatment of glaucoma, and (ii) using the ICL(TM) for the treatment of
myopia and hyperopia. There can be no assurance that the clinical trial results
to date from these studies are necessarily indicative of future clinical trial
results with respect to these new products. There can also be no assurance that
long-term safety and efficacy data, when collected, will be consistent with the
clinical results to date, and will demonstrate that (i) the AQUA-FLOW(TM)
glaucoma device can be used safely and successfully to treat glaucoma in a broad
segment of the patient population or on a long-term basis, or (ii) that the
ICL(TM) can be used safely and successfully to treat myopia or hyperopia on a
long-term basis. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that there will be no
serious complications or side effects, or that any such complications or side
effects will not impair or delay the Company's obtaining regulatory approval for
these new products in the United States and other key markets.

In addition to the review and approval process for its products, the
Company is also subject to government regulation of its manufacturing facilities
and procedures including "good manufacturing practice" regulations promulgated
by the FDA. The Company believes it is in compliance with all applicable
regulations. However, the FDA and comparable regulatory agencies in other
countries have substantial discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of
applicable regulations. There can be no assurance that future interpretations
made by any regulatory bodies, including the FDA, with possible retroactive
effect, will not adversely affect the Company. Moreover, the Company could
suffer a material adverse effect from a change in these regulations. The
Company cannot predict the extent or impact of future federal, state, local or
foreign legislation or regulation. See "Business - Regulatory Requirements" in
Item 1.

If, as a result of FDA inspections, MDR reports or other information, the
FDA believes that the Company is not in compliance with the law, the FDA can
institute proceedings to detain or seize products, enjoin future violations,
and/or assess civil or criminal penalties against the Company and its officers
or employees. Although the Company and its products have not been the subject
of any such FDA enforcement action, any such action by the FDA could result in a
disruption of the Company's operations for an undetermined time.

Patents and Proprietary Rights. The Company's ability to compete
effectively is materially dependent upon the proprietary nature of the designs,
processes, technologies and materials owned, used by or licensed to the Company.
Although the Company attempts to protect its proprietary property, technologies
and processes through a combination of patent law, trade secrets and non-
disclosure agreements, there is no assurance that any or all of these measures
will prove to be effective. For example, in the case of patents, there can be
no assurance that existing patents granted to the Company or its licensors will
not be invalidated, that patents currently or prospectively applied for by the
Company or its licensors will be granted, or that patents will provide
significant commercial benefits. Moreover, it is possible that competing
companies may circumvent patents the Company or its licensors have received or
applied for by developing products which closely emulate but do not infringe the
Company's or its licensor's patents, and thereby market products that compete
with the Company's products without obtaining a license from the Company. In
addition to patented or potentially patentable designs, technologies, processes
and materials, the Company also relies on proprietary designs, technologies,
processes and know-how not eligible for patent protection, and there is no
assurance that competitors may not independently develop the same or superior
designs, technologies, processes and know-how.

The Company believes that the international market for its products is as
important as the domestic market, and therefore seeks patent protection for its
products or those of its licensors in selected foreign countries. Because of
the differences in foreign patent and other laws concerning proprietary rights,
the Company's products may not receive the same degree of protection in certain
foreign countries as they would

23
in the United States.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully
defend its patents and proprietary rights. The invalidation or circumvention of
key patents (principally the Company's core patents for insertion of foldable or
deformable IOLs or ICLs(TM) through minimally invasive surgical techniques) or
proprietary rights owned by or licensed to the Company could have an adverse
effect on the Company and on its business prospects. There can be no assurance
that the Company will not be required to defend against litigation involving the
patents or proprietary rights of others, or that licenses under such rights will
be available. Legal and accounting costs relating to prosecuting or defending
patent infringement litigation may be substantial. See "Business Intellectual
Property and Licenses" in Item 1.

Third-Party Reimbursement. The Company's ability to sell its products is,
in part, dependent upon policies of government or private third-party payors
regarding reimbursement to ophthalmic surgeons with respect to their use of the
Company's products. There can be no assurance that such third-party payors will
continue to authorize or otherwise budget reimbursement for use of the Company's
existing products (principally its IOLs) at current levels. For example,
reimbursement rates for IOLs, such as that of Medicare, have declined in recent
years. Changes in policies regarding reimbursement for ophthalmic products or
services could adversely affect the prospects for future sales of the Company's
products. The Company does not expect that ICLs(TM) will be eligible for
reimbursement, and there can be no assurance that any of the Company's other new
products will be eligible for reimbursement by government or private third-party
payors.

Risks Associated with International Transactions. The Company sells its
products internationally which subjects it to several potential risks, including
risks associated with fluctuating exchange rates and the regulation of fund
transfers by foreign governments, United States and foreign export and import
duties and tariffs and political instability. There can be no assurance that
any of the foregoing will not have a material adverse effect upon the business
of the Company. The Company has not previously engaged in activities to
mitigate the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, as the Company is
generally paid in U.S. dollars with respect to its international operations. As
earnings from international operations increase, the Company's exposure to
fluctuations in foreign currencies may increase, and the Company may utilize
forward exchange rate contracts or engage in other efforts to mitigate foreign
currency risks. If entered into, there can be no assurance as to the
effectiveness of such efforts in limiting any adverse effects of foreign
currency fluctuations on the Company's international operations and on the
Company's overall results of operations. See "Business" in Item 1 and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations Foreign Exchange" above.

Product Liability Claims; Insufficiency of Product Liability Insurance
Coverage; Product Recall Risks. As a supplier of products used in medical
treatments, the Company faces an inherent business risk of exposure to product
liability claims in the event the end use of its products results in
unanticipated adverse effects on patients, including serious personal injury or
death. Certain of the Company's new products, such as its AQUA-FLOW(TM)
glaucoma device and its ICL(TM), are based upon unique designs and materials.
Product liability risk is higher with respect to these products, as they have a
limited history of testing, use and performance, and unknown defects associated
with such products may only be identified through the passage of time.
Potential negative publicity concerning the defective product could also affect
the Company's other products. No assurance can be given that the Company will
not experience product liability claims in the future with respect to its
established or new products. Any product liability claim could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.

Any product liability claims will be subject to the uncertainties attendant
to litigation. The Company currently maintains product liability insurance
coverage. No assurance can be given that such insurance coverage is in an
amount sufficient to cover all possible liabilities, or one or more large
claims, or that the insurer will be solvent at the time of any covered loss.
Also, no assurance can be given that adequate product liability insurance will
continue to be available in the future or maintained at a reasonable cost to the

24
Company.  In the event of a successful product liability suit against the
Company, lack or insufficiency of insurance coverage could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.

The Company may, in the event there are material deficiencies or defects in
the design or manufacture of any of its products, be required to recall such
defective products. In the event of a product recall, the cost to, and the
potential liability of, the Company could be significant and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and operations, especially if
such liability relates to the recall of a product generating significant
revenues and earnings for the Company, such as its foldable IOLs. Potential
negative publicity from a recall could also adversely affect sales and/or
regulatory approvals of the Company's other products.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Financial Statements and the Report of Independent Certified Public
Accountants are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K in a separate section
following Part IV, as shown on the index under Item 14(a) of this Annual Report.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

PART III
--------

ITEMS 10., 11., 12. and 13.

Information required by Part III (Items 10, 11, 12 and 13) is incorporated by
reference to the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.


PART IV
-------


ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
(a)(1) Financial statements required by Item B of this form are filed as a separate part of
this report following Part IV

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998 F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended January 1, 1999, January 2, F-4
1998 and January 3, 1997

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended January 1, F-5
1999, January 2, 1998, and January 3, 1997
</TABLE>

25
<TABLE>

<S> <C> <C>
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 1, 1999, F-6
January 2, 1998, and January 3, 1997

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-11

(2) Schedules required by Regulation S-X are filed as an exhibit to this report:

Independent Certified Public Accountants' Report on Schedules
and Consent F-23

II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves F-24

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required
to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial
statements notes thereto
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C>
(3) Exhibits
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation, as amended(1)

3.4 By-laws, as amended(7)

4.1 1990 Stock Option Plan(2)

4.2 1991 Stock Option Plan(3)

4.3 1995 STAAR Surgical Company Consultant Stock Plan(4)

4.4 1996 STAAR Surgical Company Non-Qualified Stock Plan(8)

4.5 Stockholders' Rights Plan, dated effective April 20, 1995(6)

4.6 1998 STAAR Surgical Company Stock Plan, adopted April 17, 1998(9)

10.1 Joint Venture Agreement, dated May 23, 1988, between the
Company, Canon Sales Co, Inc. and Canon, Inc.(11)

10.2 License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between Chiron
Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company(5)

10.3 License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between Chiron
Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company(5)

10.4 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from John R. Wolf to
the Company(8)

10.5 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28, 1991,
between John R. Wolf, the Company and Pollet & Associates(8)
</TABLE>

26
<TABLE>

<S> <C>
10.6 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(8)

10.7 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28, 1991,
between William C. Huddleston, the Company and Pollet &
Associates(8)

10.8 Promissory Note, dated May 26, 1992, from the Andrew F. Pollet
and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust dated March 6, 1990(10)

10.9 Deed of Trust, dated September 21, 1992, by the Andrew F.
Pollet and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust dated March 6,
1990(10)

10.10 Promissory Note, dated July 3, 1992, from William C. Huddleston
to the Company(10)

10.11 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated July 3, 1992, between
William C. Huddleston the Company and Pollet & Associates(10)

10.12 Lease, dated November 9, 1992, by and between Linda Lee Brown
and Phyllis Ann Bailey and the Company regarding real property
located at 1911 Walker Avenue, Monrovia, California(10)

10.13 Indenture of Lease, dated October 20, 1983, by and between Dale
E. Turner & Francis R. Turner, and the Company regarding real
property located at 1911 Walker Avenue, Monrovia, California,
and all Lease Additions thereto(10)

10.14 Patent License Agreement, dated May 24, 1995, with Eye
Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and Technology Complex(7)

10.15 Patent License Agreement, dated January 1, 1996, with Eye
Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and Technology Complex(8)

10.16 Promissory Note, dated March 18, 1993, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(5)

10.17 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated December 20, 1994,
between the Company and John R. Wolf(5)

10.18 First Amendment To Sales Representative Agreement, dated
December 20, 1994, between the Company and John R. Wolf(5)

10.19 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Vladimir Feingold(5)

10.20 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Vladimir Feingold(8)

10.21 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and William C. Huddleston(5)
</TABLE>

27
<TABLE>

<S> <C>
10.22 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and William C. Huddleston(8)

10.23 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Carl M. Manisco(5)

10.24 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Carl M. Manisco(8)

10.25 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Michael J. Lloyd(5)

10.26 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Michael J. Lloyd(8)

10.27 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Stephen L. Ziemba(5)

10.28 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Stephen L. Ziemba(8)

10.29 Employment Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Donald R. Sanders(11)

10.30 Amended IOL Supply Agreement, dated June 10, 1994, between the
Company and Chiron Vision Corporation(5)

10.31 Manufacturing Site Agreement, dated June 10, 1994, between the
Company and Chiron Vision Corporation(5)

10.32 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements granted to
Directors of Company in June and August 1994(5)

10.33 Agreement For Purchase And Sale Of Assets, dated October 1,
1994, between STAAR Surgical Australasia Pty. Ltd. and Bionica
Pty. Ltd.(5)

10.34 Agreement, dated October 10, 1995, with China Eye Joint
Venture(7)

10.35 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and John R. Wolf(11)

10.36 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from John R. Wolf to
the Company(11)

10.37 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and William C. Huddleston(11)

10.38 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(11)

10.39 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Carl Manisco(11)
</TABLE>

28
<TABLE>

<S> <C>
10.40 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from Carl Manisco to
the Company(11)

10.41 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Andrew F. Pollet(11)

10.42 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from Andrew F. Pollet
to the Company(11)

10.43 Supply Agreement, dated January 28, 1998, between the Company
and Mentor Medical, Inc. (11)

10.44 Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, between the Company and
Mentor Corporation. (11)

10.45 Agreement regarding the purchase of shares effective January 5, 1998. (11)*

10.46 Revolving Line of Credit Note, dated June 1, 1998, between the
Company and Wells Fargo Bank. (11)

10.47 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Andrew F. Pollet(11)

10.48 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and John R. Wolf(11)

10.49 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Donald R. Sanders(11)

21 List of Significant Subsidiaries(11)

24 Powers of Attorney(11)

27.1 Financial Data Schedule at and for the year ended January 1,
1999(11)
</TABLE>

(Footnotes to Exhibits):

(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-18, File No. 2-83434, as filed on April 29, 1983
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-37248, as filed on October 11, 1990
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-76404, as filed on March 11, 1994
(4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-60241, as filed on June 15, 1995
(5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 30, 1994, as filed on March 30, 1995

29
(6)  Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on June 6, 1995, as filed on May 12, 1995
(7) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 29, 1995, as filed on March 28, 1996
(8) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended January 3, 1997, as filed on April 2, 1997
(9) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on May 29, 1998, as filed on May 1 1998.
(10) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended January 1, 1998, as filed on April 1, 1998
(11) Filed herewith
(12) Re-filed herewith pursuant to Reg. (S)229.10(d)


* Certain confidential information redacted and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of Regulation C
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended


30
SIGNATURES
----------

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on April 1, 1999.

STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY


By: /s/ John R. Wolf
-------------------------------------------
John R. Wolf, President and Chief Executive
Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant on April 1, 1999 and in the capacities indicated.



/s/ John R. Wolf President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
- ---------------------------
John R. Wolf


/s/William C. Huddleston Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- --------------------------- (principal accounting and financial officer)
William C. Huddleston


/s/ Peter J. Utrata, M.D.* Director
- ---------------------------
Peter J. Utrata, M.D.


/s/ Donald R. Sanders, M.D.* Director
- ----------------------------
Donald R. Sanders


/s/ Andrew F. Pollet* Director
- ----------------------------
Andrew F. Pollet


/s/ Michael R. Deitz, M.D.* Director
- ----------------------------
Michael R. Deitz, M.D.


* /s/ William C. Huddleston
- ----------------------------
William C. Huddleston
(Attorney in Fact)

31
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES


CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


YEARS ENDED JANUARY 1, 1999,
JANUARY 2, 1998 AND JANUARY 3, 1997
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Board of Directors and Stockholders
STAAR Surgical Company

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of STAAR Surgical
Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, and the
related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and
comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended January 1, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 1999 and January 2,
1998, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended January 1, 1999, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in the Summary of Accounting Policies to the consolidated
financial statements, in fiscal 1998, the Company adopted the provisions of
Statement of Position 98-5 "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities"
issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.



BDO Seidman, LLP

Los Angeles, California
March 22, 1999

F-2
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
---- ----

ASSETS
------
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,689,574 $ 6,279,136
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $232,841
and $128,070 (Note 1) 10,167,449 7,983,399
Other receivables (Notes 7 and 9) 1,386,830 3,250,000
Inventories (Note 2) 20,139,979 14,712,398
Prepaids, deposits and other current assets 3,624,390 2,006,075
Deferred income tax (Note 7) 1,108,761 1,182,136
------------ ------------
Total current assets 41,116,983 35,413,144
------------ ------------
Investment in joint venture (Note 4) 3,178,477 2,740,163
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 3) 10,379,997 10,024,181
Patents and licenses, net of accumulated amortization of $3,751,769 and
$2,397,920 (Notes 8 and 9) 12,038,023 11,121,436
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $488,596 and $160,729 5,047,982 967,789
Other assets 1,528,150 2,124,168
------------ ------------
$73,289,612 $62,390,881
============ ============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
Notes payable (Note 5) $ 1,034,801 $ 983,276
Accounts payable 4,975,222 1,528,436
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) 1,277,474 624,698
Deferred income tax (Note 7) 2,822,706 3,174,000
Other current liabilities (Notes 11 and 12) 4,081,885 4,166,963
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 14,192,088 10,477,373
------------ ------------
Long-term debt, net of current portion (Note 6) 10,021,287 6,666,438
Other long-term liabilities (Note 12) 513,699 464,286
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 24,727,074 17,608,097
------------ ------------
Minority interest 856,039 -
------------ ------------
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 11 and 13)
Stockholders' equity (Notes 10, 11 and 15):
Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; issued
and outstanding 13,994,593 and 13,246,161 139,946 132,462
Capital in excess of par value 46,039,428 42,810,700
Accumulated other comprehensive income (536,491) (695,502)
Retained earnings 7,317,778 4,861,139
------------ ------------
52,960,661 47,108,799
Notes receivable from officers and directors (Note 10) (5,254,162) (2,326,015)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity 47,706,499 44,782,784
------------ ------------

$73,289,612 $62,390,881
============ ============
</TABLE>

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to consolidated
financial statements.

F-3
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Years Ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
------------- ------------- -------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales $ 54,244,315 $ 42,480,014 $ 41,212,511
Royalty and other income (Note 9) 898,443 3,039,571 1,000,000
------------- ------------- -------------
Total revenues 55,142,758 45,519,585 42,212,511
Cost of sales 18,533,319 10,261,748 10,195,396
------------- ------------- -------------
Gross profit 36,609,439 35,257,837 32,017,115
------------- ------------- -------------
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
General and administrative (Note 13) 6,769,791 6,333,781 5,627,576
Marketing and selling 18,709,076 12,719,166 12,227,593
Research and development 3,569,876 3,936,293 4,084,991
------------- ------------- -------------
Total selling, general and administrative expenses 29,048,743 22,989,240 21,940,160
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating income 7,560,696 12,268,597 10,076,955
------------- ------------- -------------
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of joint venture (Note 4) 438,314 336,437 486,398
Interest expense--net (560,345) (595,810) (450,276)
Other income (expense) (640,560) (319,808) 116,563
------------- ------------- -------------
Total other income (expense) (762,591) (579,181) 152,685
------------- ------------- -------------
Income before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect
of change in accounting method 6,798,105 11,689,416 10,229,640
Income tax provision (Note 7) 1,999,030 4,270,286 3,338,544
Minority interest 661,623 - -
------------- ------------- -------------
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method 4,137,452 7,419,130 6,891,096
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method, write-off of
start-up costs, net of income taxes of $695,826 1,680,813 - -
------------- -------------- -------------
Net income $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130 $ 6,891,096
============= ============= =============
Basic earnings per share (Notes 10 and 15):
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method $ 0.30 $ 0.57 $ 0.53
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method (0.12) - -
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income $ 0.18 $ 0.57 $ 0.53
============= ============= =============
Dilutive earnings per share (Notes 10 and 15):
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method $ 0.29 $ 0.53 $ 0.50
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method (0.12) - -
------------- ------------- -------------

Net income $ 0.17 $ 0.53 $ 0.50
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to consolidated
financial statements.

F-4
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Years Ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Accumulated
Capital in Retained Other
Common Excess of Earnings Comprehensive Notes
Stock Par Value (Deficit) Income Receivable Total
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, at December 29, 1995 $127,841 $40,325,287 $(9,449,087) $ - $(2,326,015) $28,678,026
Common stock issued upon exercise of
options (Note 10) 2,266 983,926 - - - 986,192
Common stock issued upon exercise of
warrants (Note 10) 375 64,625 - - - 65,000
Common stock issued as payment for
services (Note 10) 444 458,492 - - - 458,936
Common stock repurchased and
cancelled (219) (314,281) - - - (314,500)

Foreign currency translation
adjustment - - - (160,573) - (160,573)

Net income - - 6,891,096 - - 6,891,096
-------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- -----------

Balance, at January 3, 1997 130,707 41,518,049 (2,557,991) (160,573) (2,326,015) 36,604,177
Common stock issued upon exercise of
options (Note 10) 1,607 1,020,886 - - - 1,022,493
Common stock issued as payment for
services (Note 10) 241 324,759 - - - 325,000
Common stock repurchased and
cancelled (93) (136,994) - - - (137,087)

Stock-based compensation (Note 10) - 84,000 - - - 84,000
Foreign currency translation
adjustment - - - (534,929) - (534,929)

Net income - - 7,419,130 - - 7,419,130
-------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- -----------

Balance, at January 2, 1998 132,462 42,810,700 4,861,139 (695,502) (2,326,015) 44,782,784
Common stock issued upon exercise of
options (Note 10) 5,686 3,063,025 - - (2,928,147) 140,564
Common stock issued upon exercise of
warrants (Note 10) 1,868 219,733 - - - 221,601
Common stock issued as payment for
services (Note 10) 50 64,950 - - - 65,000
Common stock repurchased and
cancelled (120) (203,980) - - - (204,100)
Stock-based compensation (Note 10) - 85,000 - - - 85,000
Foreign currency translation
adjustment - - - 159,011 159,011

Net income - - 2,456,639 - - 2,456,639
-------- ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- -----------
Balance, at January 1, 1999 $139,946 $46,039,428 $ 7,317,778 $(536,491) $(5,254,162) $47,706,499
======== ============= =========== ========= =========== ===========
</TABLE>

Comprehensive income and its components consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130 $ 6,891,096
Foreign currency translation adjustment 159,011 (534,929) (160,573)
------------ ------------ ------------
Comprehensive income $ 2,615,650 $ 6,884,201 $ 6,730,523
============ ============ ============
</TABLE>

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to consolidated
financial statements.

F-5
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
-------------- ------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130 $ 6,891,096
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment 2,172,834 1,742,737 1,720,379
Amortization of intangibles 2,166,164 1,782,192 1,230,005
Write-off of start-up costs 1,680,813 - -
Change in deferred revenue (232,143) 210,432 485,998
Equity in earnings of joint venture (438,314) (336,437) (486,398)
Deferred income taxes (277,919) 3,322,939 1,992,649
Stock-based compensation expense 85,000 84,000 -
Common stock issued for services 65,000 325,000 458,936
Change in operating working capital, excluding effects of
acquisition (Note 14) (4,061,214) (6,954,502) (2,956,497)
Minority interest 661,623 - -
-------------- ------------- --------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,278,483 7,595,491 9,336,168
-------------- ------------- --------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment (2,019,533) (2,845,929) (4,278,671)
Increase in patents and licenses (2,104,454) (3,217,728) (5,936,144)
Increase in other assets (1,718,231) (1,370,449) (780,275)
Dividends received - 60,414 -
Purchase of foreign distributor (net of cash acquired) (4,269,923)
-------------- ------------- --------------
Net cash used in investing activities (10,112,141) (7,373,692) (10,995,090)
-------------- ------------- --------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings under notes payable and long-term debt 4,433,648 1,109,480 2,133,077
Payments on other notes payable and long-term debt (1,908,803) (2,679,075) (536,028)
Net borrowings under line-of-credit 1,402,175 806,940 2,188,259
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants 362,165 1,022,493 1,051,191
Payments for repurchase of common stock (204,100) (137,087) (314,500)
-------------- ------------- --------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 4,085,085 122,751 4,521,999
-------------- ------------- --------------

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 159,011 (534,929) (160,573)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (1,589,562) (190,379) 2,702,504
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year 6,279,136 6,469,515 3,767,011
-------------- ------------- --------------

Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year $ 4,689,574 $ 6,279,136 $ 6,469,515
============== ============= ==============
</TABLE>

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to consolidated
financial statements.

F-6
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Years Ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997


Organization and Description of Business

STAAR Surgical Company (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, was
incorporated in 1982 for the purpose of developing, producing, and marketing
IOLs and other products for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. The Company
has evolved to become a developer, manufacturer and global distributor of
products used by ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals to improve or
correct vision in patients suffering from refractive conditions, cataracts and
glaucoma. Products manufactured by the Company for use in correcting refractive
conditions such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and
astigmatism include its Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL(TM)) and Toric(TM)
Intraocular Lens. Products manufactured by the Company for use in restoring
vision adversely affected by cataracts include its line of Intraocular Lenses
(IOLs), and the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine. The Company's AQUA-
FLOW(TM) device is used in preventing the buildup of excessive aqueous which
leads to deterioration of vision in patients afflicted with glaucoma. The
Company also sells other instruments, devices and equipment which are
manufactured either by the Company or by others in the ophthalmic products
industry.

The Company's only significant subsidiary is STAAR Surgical AG, a wholly owned
subsidiary formed in Switzerland to develop, manufacture and distribute
worldwide certain of the Company's products, including the ICLs(TM) and its
AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device. The Company and STAAR Surgical AG have also
formed or acquired a number of direct or indirect owned subsidiaries to
distribute and market the Company's products in selected foreign countries.
STAAR Surgical AG also controls 60% of a major European sales subsidiary which
distributes both the Company's products and products from various other
manufacturers.

Business Acquisitions

On January 5, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition or establishment of
five international subsidiaries (including the control of 60% of a major
European distributor) for the sales of ophthalmic products. Total consideration
for the acquisitions was approximately $4.5 million in 1998 and $1.1 million in
1997 and resulted in recording of goodwill of approximately $4.2 million in 1998
and $1.0 million in 1997.

Pro forma financial information for the Company and the foreign distributors
for the year ended January 2, 1998, as if the acquisition of the foreign
distributors occurred as of January 2, 1997 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Revenues $62,710
Net income $ 7,810
Net income per diluted share $ 0.55
</TABLE>


Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements consolidate the accounts of the Company
and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Assets and
liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at rates of exchange in
effect at the close of the period. Revenues and expenses are translated at the
weighted average of exchange rates in effect during the year. The resulting
translation gains and losses are deferred and are shown as a separate component
of stockholders' equity. During 1998, 1997 and 1996, the net foreign
translation (gain) loss was $(159,011), $534,929 and $160,573 and net foreign
currency transaction loss was $120,737, $228,547 and $261,181, respectively.
Investments in affiliates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity
method of accounting.

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Friday nearest December 31. The year
ended January 3, 1997 included 53 weeks.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generally supplies a quantity of foldable IOLs with different
specifications to customers, generally ophthalmologists, surgical centers,
hospitals and other health providers, on a consignment basis, and recognizes
sales when an ophthalmic surgeon implants the consigned foldable IOL. Sales of
the AQUA-FLOW(TM) and the ICL(TM) and sales to foreign distributors are
recognized upon shipment. Revenue from license and technology agreements is
recorded as income over the term of the respective agreement when the Company
has satisfied the terms of such agreements and is notified of the amounts.

Income Taxes.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected
future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's
financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial
statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted
tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to
reverse.


F-7
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(Continued)


Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an initial
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market
(net realizable value).

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost.

Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives, which are generally not greater than ten years. Leasehold improvements
are amortized over the life of the lease or estimated useful life, if shorter.
Property, plant and equipment are reviewed each year to determine whether any
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not
be recoverable. Such review includes estimating future cash flows. Property,
plant and equipment costs are expensed when determined not realizable.

Patents and Licenses

The Company capitalizes the costs of acquiring patents and licenses as well as
the legal costs of successfully defending its rights to these patents.
Amortization is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful
lives, which range from 8 to 20 years. Capitalized patent costs are reviewed
each year based on management's estimates of future cash flows of the related
products. Patent and license costs are expensed when determined not realizable.

The Company's ability to compete effectively is materially dependent upon the
proprietary nature of the designs, processes, technologies and materials owned,
used by or licensed to the Company. The Company has been and will continue to
be involved in litigation to protect its copyrights, patents and proprietary
properties and technology.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of
net assets acquired and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty
years. The Company periodically evaluates the recoverablity of goodwill. The
measurement of possible impairment is based primarily on the Company's ability
to recover the unamortized balance of the goodwill from expected future
operating cash flows on an undiscounted basis.

Start-Up Costs

Effective September 30, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Position 98-5
"Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities" (SOP 98-5) issued by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. SOP 98-5 requires that the
costs of start-up activities, including organization costs, be expensed as
incurred. Start-up activities are defined broadly as those one-time activities
related to opening a new facility, introducing a new product or service,
conducting business in a new territory, conducting business with a new class of
customer, initiating a new process in an existing facility, or commencing some
new operation.

Although SOP 98-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998, earlier application is encouraged. Accordingly, the Company elected early
application and wrote-off the $1.7 million (net of tax benefit) of start-up
costs that had been previously capitalized and included in other assets. In
accordance with SOP 98-5, the write-off of such costs is being reported as a
cumulative effect of change in accounting method. Also, in accordance with SOP
98-5, prior periods have not been restated.

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, contingent liabilities,
revenues, and expenses at the date and for the periods that the financial
statements are prepared. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

F-8
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(Continued)


Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts
payable, and current notes payable approximate their fair values because of the
short maturity of these instruments. With respect to long-term debt, based on
the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for similar bank and
equipment loans and capitalized leases, the amounts reported approximate the
fair value of the respective financial instruments.

Net Income Per Share

As of January 2, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128, Earnings per Share (SFAS 128). SFAS 128 provides for the
calculation of Basic and Diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share
includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common
shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the
period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of
securities that could occur if securities or other contracts (such as stock
options and warrants) to issue common stock were exercised or converted into
common stock. All prior period weighted average and per share information has
been restated in accordance with SFAS 128. None of the restated amounts were
material.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123), which established a fair
value method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans. In accordance
with SFAS 123, the Company has chosen to continue to account for stock-based
compensation utilizing the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB 25.
Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if
any, of the fair market price of the Company's stock at the date of grant over
the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. Also, in accordance with
SFAS 123, the Company has provided footnote disclosure with respect to stock-
based employee compensation. The cost of stock-based employee compensation is
measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and this cost is
recognized over the service period. The value of the stock-based award is
determined using a pricing model whereby compensation cost is the excess of the
fair market value of the stock as determined by the model at grant date or other
measurement date over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.

Comprehensive Income

During the year ended January 1, 1999, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," ("SFAS
130") issued by the FASB is effective for financial statements with fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997. SFAS 130 establishes standards for reporting
and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set of general-
purpose financial statements. The Company has chosen to report comprehensive
income in the Statement of Stockholders' Equity. Comprehensive income is
comprised of net income and all changes to stockholders' equity except those due
to investments by owners and distributions to owners. Adoption of SFAS 130 did
not have an impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Segments of an Enterprise

During the year ended January 1, 1999, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information," ("SFAS 131") issued by the FASB is
effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning after December
15, 1997. SFAS 131 requires that public companies report certain information
about operating segments, products, services and geographical areas in which
they operate and their major customers. Adoption of SFAS 131 did not have an
impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Adoption
of SFAS 131 resulted in expanded disclosures for the year and all prior periods.
See Note 16, Geographic and Product Data and Export Sales.

F-9
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(Continued)


Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year consolidated
financial statements to conform with the 1998 presentation.

New Accounting Pronouncement

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS 133"). SFAS 133 requires
companies to recognize all derivative contracts as either assets or liabilities
in the balance sheet and to measure them at fair value. If certain conditions
are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge, the objective
of which is to match the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging
derivative with the recognition of (i) the changes in the fair value of the
hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk or (ii) the
earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transaction. For a derivative not
designated as a hedging instrument, the gain or loss is recognized in income in
the period of change. SFAS 133 is effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal
years beginning after June 15, 1999.

Historically, the Company has not entered into derivative contracts either to
hedge existing risks or for speculative purposes. Accordingly, the Company does
not expect adoption of the new standard to have any affect on its financial
statements.

F-10
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997


NOTE 1--ACCOUNTS RECEIVABE

Accounts receivable are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Domestic $ 3,785,253 $ 4,640,393
Foreign 6,615,037 3,471,076
------------ ------------

10,400,290 8,111,469
Less allowance for doubtful accounts 232,841 128,070
------------ ------------

$10,167,449 $ 7,983,399
============ ============
</TABLE>

NOTE 2--INVENTORIES

Inventories are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Raw materials and purchased parts $ 2,189,154 $ 1,976,467
Work in process 2,279,002 1,736,339
Finished goods 15,671,823 10,999,592
------------ ------------

$20,139,979 $14,712,398
============ ============
</TABLE>

NOTE 3--PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Machinery and equipment $14,423,622 $11,890,362
Furniture and fixtures 5,692,531 4,896,349
Leasehold improvements 3,659,375 3,240,727
------------ ------------

23,775,528 20,027,438
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 13,395,531 10,003,257
------------ ------------

$10,379,997 $10,024,181
============ ============
</TABLE>

F-11
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 4--INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURE

The Company owns a 50% equity interest in a joint venture, the CANON-STAAR
Company, Inc. ("CSC"), with Canon Inc. ("Canon") and Canon Sales Co, Inc.
("Canon Sales"). The joint venture was formed to manufacture and sell the
Company's IOL products to Canon Sales or other distributors in Japan. The
Company sold CSC an exclusive license to manufacture and market its products in
Japan. The Company recorded $1,500,000 of deferred revenue on the sale of the
license, which was recognized over eight years through October 1996 on a
straight-line basis. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for this
investment. The financial statements of CSC include assets of approximately
$7,740,000 and $6,213,000, and liabilities of approximately $1,689,000 and
$1,364,000, as of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, respectively.

The Company's equity in earnings of the joint venture is calculated as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
------------ ------------ -------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Joint venture net income $ 876,627 $ 672,873 $ 685,296
Equity interest 50% 50% 50%
------------ ------------ -------------

Equity in net income 438,314 336,437 342,648
Recognition of deferred gain on sale of license - - 143,750
------------ ------------ -------------

Equity in earnings of joint venture $ 438,314 $ 336,437 $ 486,398
============ ============ =============
</TABLE>

The Company recorded sales of certain IOL products to CSC of approximately
$16,000, $469,000 and $845,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

NOTE 5--NOTES PAYABLE

In May 1994, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility with a Swiss
bank, which provides for borrowings up to $796,178 (1,125,000 Swiss Francs at
the exchange rate at January 1, 1999) at the interest rate of 5.5%. On August
21, 1998 the interest rate was reduced to 5.0%. A commission rate of 0.25% is
payable each quarter. The loan does not have a termination date and is secured
by a general assignment of claims. Borrowings outstanding under this facility as
of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998 were $1,034,801 (1,437,339 Swiss Francs)
and $926,112 (1,359,440 Swiss Francs), respectively. As of January 1, 1999 and
January 2, 1998, the balance exceeded the maximum allowable borrowings. The
excess borrowings were permitted due to adequate compensating cash balances.

F-12
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


NOTE 6--LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
--------------- -------------

<S> <C> <C>
Note payable to bank, interest at a rate not to exceed prime less .5% payable
monthly, due June 1, 2001(1) $ 6,857,590 $ 5,506,940

Note payable to bank, payable in monthly installments plus interest at a rate
not to exceed prime less .25% due March 1, 2003 (2) 3,625,148 -

Note payable to bank, interest at 1/4 of 6.25%, payable in four equal annual
installments plus interest beginning in December 1996, guaranteed by the
Swiss Federal Government and Canton of Bern 214,127 397,186

Note payable to equipment vendor, interest at 13%, payable in monthly
installments plus interest through December 1999, secured by equipment 44,954 74,778

Note payable to the sellers of a corporation purchased by the Company,
interest at 6%, payable in equal annual installments over a five year period 468,907 916,000

Obligations under capitalized leases (see Note 11) 88,035 396,232
--------------- -------------

11,298,761 7,291,136
Less current portion 1,277,474 624,698
--------------- -------------

Long-term debt due after one year $ 10,021,287 $ 6,666,438
=============== =============
</TABLE>

(1) In June 1998, the Company renegotiated its line-of-credit with its current
domestic lender. Under the new agreement, the Company may borrow up to
$10,000,000 on a revolving basis, at a rate of interest not to exceed the
prime interest rate (7.75% at January 1, 1999) less .5% (or, at the
election of the Company, if more than $500,000 is outstanding, at a rate of
interest equal to LIBOR, plus a margin of 1.25 to 1.75% depending on the
Company's funded debt to EBITDA coverage ratio). The loan agreement
requires the Company to satisfy certain financial tests and limits the
amount of other indebtedness the Company may incur. The line of credit
expires June 2001. Borrowings are not collateralized. The Company was in
compliance with the financial restrictive covenants as of January 1, 1999.

(2) In November 1997, the Company's domestic lender supplemented the Company's
domestic credit facility by committing through March 31, 1998 to make
additional advances to the Company of up to $5 million for business
acquisitions. On January 5, 1998, the Company borrowed $4,375,162 under the
agreement. Borrowings are payable in monthly installments of $83,334 plus
interest at a rate not to exceed the prime interest rate (7.75% at January
1, 1999) less .25% (or at the election of the Company, if more than
$100,000 is outstanding, at a rate of interest equal to LIBOR, plus 1.75%).
The note is due March 1, 2003. In conjunction with the June 1998 bank loan
agreement described in the preceding paragraph, this loan is subject to the
same restrictive convenants as the line-of-credit.

Annual future minimum payments under long-term debt consist of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Fiscal Year
-----------
<S> <C>
1999 $ 1,277,474
2000 1,266,238
2001 8,007,690
2002 747,359
-----------
$11,298,761
===========
</TABLE>

F-13
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 7--INCOME TAXES

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income
taxes.

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- ------------- -------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current tax provision:
U.S. federal (net of $0, $1,258,000 and $2,006,000 tax benefit
from operating loss carryforwards) $ 100,264 $ 245,000 $ 492,000
State 96,851 581,000 725,000
Foreign 1,384,008 121,357 128,544
--------------- ------------- -------------
Total current provision 1,581,123 947,357 1,345,544
--------------- ------------- -------------

Deferred tax provision (benefit):
U.S. federal and state (328,990) 3,374,000 1,993,000
Foreign 51,071 (51,071) -
--------------- ------------- -------------
Total deferred provision (277,919) 3,322,929 1,993,000
--------------- ------------- -------------
Provision for income taxes 1,303,204 4,270,286 3,338,544

Tax benefit from cumulative change in accounting method 695,826 - -
--------------- ------------- -------------

Provision for income taxes, before cumulative effect of
change in accounting method $ 1,999,030 $ 4,270,286 $ 3,338,544
=============== ============= =============
</TABLE>

The Company utilized all of its remaining tax net operating loss carryforwards
for federal income tax purposes during 1997.

The Company has income taxes recoverable at January 1, 1999 of $1,386,830,
reported on the balance sheet as other receivables.

Alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforward at January 1, 1999 was
approximately $349,000. The AMT credit does not have an expiration date.

The provision based on income before taxes differs from the amount obtained by
applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
-------- --------- --------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Computed provision for taxes based on income at statutory rate 34.0% 35.0% 34.0%
Permanent differences - (0.1) 1.5
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (0.8) 4.7 6.1
Tax effect attributed to foreign operations 1.6 (4.0) (10.1)
Other - 0.9 1.1
-------- --------- --------
Effective tax provision rate 34.8% 36.5% 32.6%
======== ========= ========
</TABLE>

Undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries amounted to
approximately $4.7 million at January 1, 1999. Those earnings are considered to
be indefinitely reinvested and, accordingly, no provision for United States
federal and state income taxes has been provided thereon. Upon distribution of
those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be
subject to both United States income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign
tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to the various foreign countries.
Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred United States income tax
liability is not practicable because of the complexities associated with its
hypothetical calculation.

F-14
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components
of the Company's deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of January 1, 1999 and
January 2, 1998 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997
--------------- --------------

Deferred tax assets:
<S> <C> <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 61,000 $ 65,000
Inventory reserves and uniform capitalization 458,000 341,000
Accrued vacation 158,000 130,000
State taxes 82,000 204,000
AMT tax credit carryforwards 349,000 391,000
Deferred taxes on foreign operations - 51,000
--------------- --------------

Total deferred tax assets $ 1,108,000 $ 1,182,000
--------------- --------------

Deferred tax liabilities:
Amortization of deferred gain - (1,041,000)
Depreciation and amortization (2,645,000) (2,133,000)
Discount on trade receivables (177,000) -
--------------- --------------

Total deferred tax liabilities (2,822,000) (3,174,000)
--------------- --------------

Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets $ (1,714,000) $ (1,992,000)
=============== ==============
</TABLE>

NOTE 8--PATENTS

During 1995, the Company acquired from the Intersectoral Research and
Technology Complex Eye Microsurgery ("IRTC"), a Russian Federation located in
Moscow, Russia, exclusive patent rights to use and sell glaucoma devices in the
United States and certain foreign countries. During 1996, the Company acquired
from IRTC exclusive rights to several domestic and foreign patents associated
with the Company's implantable contact lenses (ICLs). The transactions involve
a specified amount for the patent rights and payments of royalties over the life
of the patents.

In 1996, the Company acquired a license, as part of the settlement of
litigation with Allergan Medical Optics, relating to an apparatus for insertion
of an intraocular lens. The amount paid has been included in patents in the
accompanying balance sheet.

NOTE 9--LICENSING AGREEMENTS

The Company has issued Allergan Medical Optics ("AMO"), Alcon Surgical, Inc.
(Alcon), Pharmacia & Upjohn, Bausch and Lomb Surgical and Mentor Corporation
with licenses to utilize certain of its patents involving foldable IOLs in the
United States and selected foreign countries. Each license has a certain amount
of prepaid royalties (which were received by the Company when the license was
issued) which will be utilized by that licensee as sales of the licensed
products are made. The Company recorded $232,000, $3,040,000 and $1,000,000 of
royalty income in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, from these licenses.



F-15
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 10--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common Stock

In 1996, the Company issued 44,384 shares to consultants for services rendered
to the Company. Also during 1996, the Company repurchased and cancelled 21,879
shares.

In 1997, the Company issued 24,074 shares to consultants for services rendered
to the Company. Also, during 1997, the Company repurchased and cancelled 9,336
shares.

In 1998, the Company issued 5,000 shares to consultants for services rendered
to the Company. Also, during 1998, the Company repurchased and cancelled 12,007
shares.

Notes Receivable

As of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, notes receivable from officers and
directors totalling $5,254,162 and $2,326,015, were outstanding. The notes were
issued in connection with purchases of the Company's common stock. The notes
bear interest at rates ranging between 3.69% and 8%, or at the lowest federal
applicable rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. The notes are secured
by stock pledge agreements and mature on various dates through September 4,
2003.

Options

The table below summarizes the transactions in the Company's several stock
option plans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted
Average
Number of Exercise
Shares Price
-------------- -------------

<S> <C> <C>
Balance at December 29, 1995 1,227,754 $ 4.87
Options granted 574,000 $12.50
Options exercised (226,552) $ 4.26
-------------- -------------
Balance at January 3, 1997 1,575,202 $ 7.72
Options granted 413,400 $10.94
Options exercised (160,719) $ 6.36
Options forfeited (5,108) $ 9.65
-------------- -------------
Balance at January 2, 1998 1,822,775 $ 8.56
Options granted / reissued 890,000 $ 6.25
Options exercised (568,690) $ 5.40
Options forfeited / cancelled (598,500) $12.50
-------------- -------------
Balance at January 1, 1999 1,545,585 $ 6.69
============== =============
Options exercisable (vested) at January 1, 1999 1,089,252 $ 6.31
============== =============
</TABLE>

Included in the table above are options to purchase 12,585 shares of common
stock outstanding at January 1, 1999, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share,
which options were granted pursuant to the Company's 1990 Stock Option Plan.
Generally, options under this plan are granted at fair market value at the date
of the grant, become exercisable over a 3-year period, or as determined by the
Board of Directors, and expire over periods not exceeding 10 years from date of
grant.

Under provisions of the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan, 2,000,000 shares
were reserved for issuance. Generally, options under this plan are granted at
fair market value at the date of the grant, become exercisable over a 3-year
period, or as determined by the Board of Directors, and expire over periods not
exceeding 10 years from date of grant. Pursuant to this plan, options for
314,500 shares were outstanding at January 1, 1999, with exercise prices ranging
between $2.50 to $9.25 per share.

F-16
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)


In 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the 1996 Non-Qualified
Stock Plan, authorizing the granting of options to purchase or awards of the
Company's common stock. Under provisions of the Non-Qualified Stock Plan,
600,000 shares were reserved for issuance. Generally, options under the plan
are granted at fair market value at the date of the grant become exercisable
over a 3-year period, or as determined by the Board of Directors, and expire
over periods not exceeding 10 years from date of grant. Pursuant to this plan,
options for 160,000, 566,000 and 570,000 shares were outstanding at January 1,
1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively. The options were
originally issued with an exercise price of $12.50 per share. During 1998 the
exercise price was reduced to $6.25 per share by action of the Board of
Directors.

In 1996, the Company granted options to officers, directors and consultants to
purchase 574,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a price of $12.50, the
quoted market value at date of grant. Out of the above, 4,000 options were
issued under the 1991 stock option plan and 570,000 options were issued as non-
qualified stock options.

In 1996, officers, employees, and others exercised 226,550 options from the
1990, 1991 and non-qualified stock option plans at prices from $2.50 to $5.875
resulting in cash and stock proceeds totaling $966,191.

In 1997, the Company granted options to directors to purchase 240,000 shares
at $12.00 per share and 173,400 shares to consultants at varying amounts which
was then the fair market value.

In 1997, officers, employees and others exercised 160,719 options from the
1990, 1991 and non-qualified stock option plans at prices from $2.50 to $12.50
resulting in cash and stock proceeds totalling $1,022,493.

In 1998, officers, employees and others exercised 568,690 options from the
1990, 1991 and non-qualified stock option plans at prices from $1.15 to $12.00
resulting in cash, notes and stock proceeds totaling $3,068,713.

FASB 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, requires the Company to
provide pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share as if
compensation cost for the Company's stock option plans had been determined in
accordance with the fair value based method prescribed in FASB 123. The Company
estimates the fair value of each stock option at the grant date by using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 1998; dividend yield of 0 percent; expected
volatility of 35 percent; risk free rate of 4.5 percent; and expected lives of
3-7 years; and in 1997; dividend yield of 0 percent; expected volatility of 11
percent; risk free rate of 6.78 percent; and expected lives of 5 years; and in
1996: dividend yield of 0 percent; expected volatility of 11 percent; risk-free
interest rate of 6.73 percent; and expected lives of 7 years.

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year ended
January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997 were $1.84 to $2.89,
$1.57 and $3.60, respectively.

Under the accounting provisions of FASB 123, the Company's net income and
earnings per share for 1998, 1997 and 1996 would have been reduced to the pro
forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
-------------- --------------- --------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income
As reported $ 2,457,000 $ 7,419,000 $ 6,891,000
Pro forma $ 2,340,000 $ 6,771,000 $ 6,705,000
Basic earnings per share
As reported $ .18 $.57 $.53
Pro forma $ .17 $.52 $.52
Diluted earnings per share
As reported $ .17 $.53 $.50
Pro forma $ .16 $.48 $.48
</TABLE>

F-17
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

Due to the fact that the Company's stock option programs vest over many years
and additional awards are made each year, the above proforma numbers are not
indicative of the financial impact had the disclosure provisions of FASB 123
been applicable to all years of previous option grants. The above numbers do
not include the effect of options granted prior to 1995 that vested in 1996
through 1998.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
January 1, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options
Outstanding
Weighted-
Number Average Weighted- Number Weighted-
Range of Outstanding Remaining Average Exercisable Average
Exercise Prices at 1/1/99 Contractual Life Exercise Price at 1/1/99 Exercise Price
- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------- --------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$2.50 to $4.75 334,585 4.3 years $ 3.94 334,585 $ 3.94
$5.875 to $6.25 897,500 8.0 years $ 6.21 549,167 $ 6.19
$9.00 to $12.00 313,500 4.9 years $11.02 205,500 $10.50
- ----------------- ------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------- --------------

$2.50 to $12.00 1,545,585 6.6 years $ 6.69 1,089,252 $ 6.31
================= ============= ================== ================ ============= ==============

</TABLE>

Warrants

The table below summarizes the transactions related to the Company's warrants
to purchase common stock:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted-
Average
Number Exercise
of Shares Price
------------- --------------

<S> <C> <C>
Balance at December 29, 1995 284,394 $1.89
Warrants exercised (37,500) $1.73
------------- --------------
Balance at January 3, 1997 and January 2, 1998 246,894 $1.91
Warrants exercised (186,750) $1.19
------------- --------------
Balance at January 1, 1999 60,144 $3.94
============= ==============
</TABLE>

All warrants are exercisable as of January 1, 1999.

NOTE 11--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company leases certain property, plant and equipment under capital and
operating lease agreements. In the later part of 1995, the Company entered into
a capital lease agreement to finance surgical equipment that was sent to China
in consideration of a five year exclusive supply agreement with a hospital in
Hangzhou, China. The Company committed a $300,000 letter of credit as further
collateral for the lease. During 1998, the letter of credit was released and
the lease obligations fulfilled. The buyout provisions of the leases were
exercised subsequent to year end.

F-18
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

Annual future minimum lease payments under noncancellable capital and
operating lease commitments as of January 1, 1999 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Capital Operating
Fiscal Year Leases Leases
- ----------- ----------- -----------

<S> <C> <C>
1999 $ 36,300 $ 1,210,818
2000 36,300 765,172
2001 27,225 525,870
2002 - 469,613
2003 - 263,509
Thereafter - 48,933
--------- -------------

Total minimum lease payments 99,825 $ 3,283,915
=============
Imputed interest 11,790
---------

Present value of net minimum lease payments $ 88,035
=========
</TABLE>

Rent expense was approximately $1,147,000, $686,000 and $700,000 for the years
ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively.

Litigation and Claims

The Company is involved in legal actions and claims arising in the
ordinary course of business. It is the opinion of management (based on advice
of legal counsel) that such litigation will be resolved without material effect
on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Other Commitments

During 1993, the Company entered into consulting agreements with certain
individuals to assist the Company in the development of new products and the
promotion of its current products. Such agreements provide for payments of cash
and the issuance of shares of the Company's common stock and options to purchase
the Company's common stock, at $7 to $11 per share over a five year period. All
common stock was issued at fair market value. The agreements expired during
1998. Included in other current liabilities January 2, 1998, is approximately
$402,000 due to these consultants, payable in cash and shares of the Company's
common stock.

NOTE 12--OTHER LIABILITIES

Other Current Liabilities

Included in other current liabilities at January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998
are approximately $1,274,000 and $1,261,000 of commissions due to outside sales
representatives; income tax payable of $500,000 and $638,000; and deferred
revenue of $232,000 and $232,000, respectively.

Other Long-Term Liabilities

Included in other long-term liabilities at January 1, 1999 and January 2,
1998 is deferred revenue of approximately $232,000 and $464,000 and a pension
obligation of approximately $260,000 related to an officer of a foreign
subsidiary and $0, respectively.

NOTE 13--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has had significant related party transactions as discussed in
Notes 4 and 10.

On February 29, 1996, the Company forgave a $120,000 note receivable from one
of the Company's officers in exchange for the officer's efforts in obtaining
certain patents.

During 1998, 1997 and 1996, a law firm, of which a principal is director and
stockholder of the Company, received approximately $525,000, $280,000 and
$322,000 for fees in connection with legal services performed on behalf of the
Company. As of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, included in prepaid,
deposits, and other current assets are $250,000 and $280,000 of prepaid legal
fees.

F-19
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

The Company pays an override sales commission, based upon a percentage of the
Company's sales, to a corporation owned by an officer of the Company in its
capacity as a sales representative for the Company. This agreement relates back
to 1983, when the officer initially became associated with the Company in a
sales and marketing capacity. Commissions paid or accrued under this
arrangement totaled approximately $400,000, $420,000 and $412,000 during 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.

NOTE 14--STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities includes interest paid of
approximately $740,000, $723,000 and $557,000 for the years ended January 1,
1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively. Income taxes paid
amounted to approximately $1,450,000, $315,000 and $1,160,000 for the years
ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3, 1997, respectively.

Changes in operating working capital as shown in the consolidated statements
of cash flows for the years ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January
3, 1997 are comprised of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Decrease (increase) in:
Accounts receivable $ (672,715) $ (1,156,149) $ 696,200
Other receivables 1,863,170 (3,250,000) -
Inventories (2,086,968) (2,346,531) (2,804,980)
Prepaids, deposits and other current assets (714,454) (673,300) (1,110,039)
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable (713,574) (76,590) 283,929
Other current liabilities (1,736,673) 548,068 (21,607)
--------------- -------------- --------------
Change in operating working capital $ (4,061,214) $ (6,954,502) $ (2,956,497)
=============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Non cash financing activities:
Notes receivable (Note 10) $ 2,928,147 $ - $ -

Acquisition of business:
Assets acquired 4,027,000 93,000 -
Goodwill 4,247,000 1,038,000 -
Liabilities assumed (3,736,000) (58,000) -
Cash paid (163,000) - -
Debt incurred $ (4,375,000) $ (1,073,000) $ -
=============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>

NOTE 15--NET INCOME PER SHARE

The following is a reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares
used to compute basic and diluted earnings per share:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 13,541,644 13,123,950 12,909,506
Diluted effect of stock options and warrants 726,385 989,133 957,602
--------------- --------------- --------------
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 14,268,029 14,113,083 13,867,108
=============== =============== ==============
</TABLE>

F-20
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 16--GEOGRAPHIC AND PRODUCT DATA AND EXPORT SALES

The Company develops, manufactures and distributes medical devices used in
minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. Substantially all of the Companies
revenues result from the sale of the Companies medical devices. There is not
enough difference between the types of medical devices manufactured and
distributed by the Company for the Company to account for these products
separately or to justify segmented reporting by product type.

The Company distributes its medical devices internationally and has reportable
segments based on manufacturing and distribution criteria.

The U.S. and Switzerland are involved in both the manufacture and distribution
of medical devices and the other foreign entities are involved only in the
distribution of medical devices. The other foreign segments include Canada,
Australia, France, Austria, South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Norway.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales to unaffiliated customers

U.S. $ 24,658,000 $ 27,843,000 $ 29,069,000
Switzerland 3,970,000 5,397,000 4,371,000
Foreign distributors 25,616,000 9,240,000 7,772,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total sales to unaffiliated customers $ 54,244,000 $ 42,480,000 $ 41,212,000
=============== =============== ==============

Sales to affiliated customers

U.S. $ 3,670,000 $ 2,936,000 $ 5,098,000
Switzerland 3,232,000 2,766,000 633,000
Foreign distributors - - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total sales to affiliated customers $ 6,902,000 $ 5,702,000 $ 5,731,000
=============== =============== ==============

Depreciation and amortization

U.S. $ 3,201,000 $ 2,920,000 $ 2,509,000
Switzerland 667,000 319,000 156,000
Foreign distributors 471,000 286,000 285,000
--------------- --------------- --------------

Total depreciation and amortization $ 4,339,000 $ 3,525,000 $ 2,950,000
=============== =============== ==============

Operating income

U.S. $ 1,714,000 $ 10,621,000 $ 7,983,000
Switzerland 2,800,000 1,519,000 1,533,000
Foreign distributors 3,047,000 129,000 561,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total operating income $ 7,561,000 $ 12,269,000 $ 10,077,000
=============== =============== ==============

Profit and loss

Total operating income (as reported above) $ 7,561,000 $ 12,269,000 $ 10,077,000
Equity in earnings of joint venture 438,000 336,000 486,000
Interest expense--net (560,000) (596,000) (450,000)
Other income (expense) (640,000) (320,000) 117,000
Minority interest (662,000) - -
Income taxes (1,999,000) (4,270,000) (3,339,000)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method,
write-off of start-up costs, net of income taxes (1,681,000) - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
Net income $ 2,457,000 $ 7,419,000 $ 6,891,000
=============== =============== ==============
</TABLE>

F-21
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Identifiable assets

U.S. $ 50,774,000 $ 49,653,000 $ 41,034,000
Switzerland 6,796,000 7,860,000 7,301,000
Foreign distributors 15,720,000 4,878,000 3,721,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total identifiable assets $ 73,290,000 $ 62,391,000 $ 52,056,000
=============== =============== ==============

Capital expenditures

U.S. $ 1,604,000 $ 1,978,000 $ 3,922,000
Switzerland 126,000 792,000 168,000
Foreign distributors 290,000 76,000 189,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total capital expenditures $ 2,020,000 $ 2,846,000 $ 4,279,000
=============== =============== ==============

Non-cash items

U.S. $ 3,078,000 $ 409,000 $ 459,000
Switzerland - - -
Foreign distributors - - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total non-cash items $ 3,078,000 $ 409,000 $ 459,000
=============== =============== ==============

Investment in joint venture

U.S. $ 3,178,000 $ 2,740,000 $ 2,464,000
=============== =============== ==============
</TABLE>

The Company's operations are structured to achieve consolidated objectives.
As a result, significant interdependencies and overlaps exist among the
Company's operating units. Accordingly, the sales, operating income and
identifiable assets shown for each geographic area may not be indicative of the
amounts which would have been reported if the operating units were independent
of one another. Operating income is net sales less related costs and operating
expenses, excluding interest.

During the fiscal years ended January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998 and January 3,
1997, the Company had foreign sales, primarily to Europe, South Africa,
Australia and Southeast Asia, of approximately $29,586,000, $14,637,000 and
$12,143,000, respectively. Of these sales, approximately $23,891,000,
$8,438,000 and $7,576,000 were to Europe, which has been the Company's principal
foreign market for the last three fiscal years.

The Company sells its products internationally, which subject the Company to
several potential risks, including fluctuating exchange rates (to the extent the
Company's transactions are not in U.S. dollars), regulation of fund transfers by
foreign governments, United States and foreign export and import duties and
tariffs and political instability.

F-22
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS'
REPORT ON SCHEDULE AND CONSENT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
STAAR Surgical Company

The audits referred to in our report dated March 22, 1999, included the
related financial statement schedule as of January 1, 1999, and for each of the
three years in the period ended January 1, 1999, included in the annual report
on Form 10-K of STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries. This financial
statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule
based on our audit. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule presents
fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (No.
33-37248) (No. 33-76404) and (No. 33-60241) on Form S-8 of STAAR Surgical
Company of our report dated March 22, 1999, relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries as of January 1, 1999 and
January 2, 1998 and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders'
equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows and related schedule for each of
the three years in the period ended January 1, 1999, which report appears in the
January 1, 1999 annual report on Form 10-K of STAAR Surgical Company and
subsidiaries.



BDO Seidman, LLP


Los Angeles, California
April 1, 1999

F-23
STAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Column A Column B Column C Column D Column E
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Balance at Balance at
Beginning End of
Description of Year Additions Deductions Year
----------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998
Allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from
accounts receivable in balance sheet $ 128,000 $ 105,000 $ - $ 233,000
Reserve for obsolescence deducted from inventories
in balance sheet 131,000 - 70,000(2) 61,000
----------- ---------- ---------- -----------
$ 259,000 $ 105,000 $ 70,000 $ 294,000
=========== ========== ========== ===========

1997
Allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from
accounts receivable in balance sheet $ 112,000 $ 16,000 $ - $ 128,000


Reserve for obsolescence deducted from inventories
in balance sheet - 131,000 - 131,000
----------- ---------- ---------- -----------
$ 112,000 $ 147,000 $ - $ 259,000
=========== ========== ========== ===========

1996
Allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from
accounts receivable in balance sheet $ 119,000 $ - $ 7,000(1) $ 112,000
Reserve for obsolescence deducted from inventories
in balance sheet 31,000 - 31,000(2) -
----------- ---------- ---------- -----------
$ 150,000 $ - $ 38,000 $ 112,000
=========== ========== ========== ===========
</TABLE>

___________
(1) Writeoffs of accounts receivable.
(2) Obsolete inventory written down to zero value.

F-24
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------


Exhibits

3.1 Certificate of Incorporation, as amended(1)

3.4 By-laws, as amended(7)

4.1 1990 Stock Option Plan(2)

4.2 1991 Stock Option Plan(3)

4.3 1995 STAAR Surgical Company Consultant Stock Plan(4)

4.4 1996 STAAR Surgical Company Non-Qualified Stock Plan(8)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
4.5 Stockholders' Rights Plan, dated effective April 20, 1995(6)

4.6 1998 STAAR Surgical Company Stock Plan, adopted April 17, 1998(9)

10.1 Joint Venture Agreement, dated May 23, 1988, between the
Company, Canon Sales Co, Inc. and Canon, Inc.(11)

10.2 License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between Chiron
Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company(5)

10.3 License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between Chiron
Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company(5)

10.4 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from John R. Wolf to
the Company(8)

10.5 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28, 1991,
between John R. Wolf, the Company and Pollet & Associates(8)

10.6 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(8)

10.7 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28, 1991,
between William C. Huddleston, the Company and Pollet &
Associates(8)

10.8 Promissory Note, dated May 26, 1992, from the Andrew F. Pollet
and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust dated March 6, 1990(10)

10.9 Deed of Trust, dated September 21, 1992, by the Andrew F.
Pollet and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust dated March 6,
1990(10)

10.10 Promissory Note, dated July 3, 1992, from William C. Huddleston
to the Company(10)

10.11 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated July 3, 1992, between
William C. Huddleston the Company and Pollet & Associates(10)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.12 Lease, dated November 9, 1992, by and between Linda Lee Brown
and Phyllis Ann Bailey and the Company regarding real property
located at 1911 Walker Avenue, Monrovia, California(10)

10.13 Indenture of Lease, dated October 20, 1983, by and between Dale
E. Turner & Francis R. Turner, and the Company regarding real
property located at 1911 Walker Avenue, Monrovia, California,
and all Lease Additions thereto(10)

10.14 Patent License Agreement, dated May 24, 1995, with Eye
Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and Technology Complex(7)

10.15 Patent License Agreement, dated January 1, 1996, with Eye
Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and Technology Complex(8)

10.16 Promissory Note, dated March 18, 1993, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(5)

10.17 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated December 20, 1994,
between the Company and John R. Wolf(5)

10.18 First Amendment To Sales Representative Agreement, dated
December 20, 1994, between the Company and John R. Wolf(5)

10.19 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Vladimir Feingold(5)

10.20 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Vladimir Feingold(8)

10.21 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and William C. Huddleston(5)

10.22 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and William C. Huddleston(8)

10.23 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Carl M. Manisco(5)

10.24 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Carl M. Manisco(8)

10.25 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Michael J. Lloyd(5)

10.26 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Michael J. Lloyd(8)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.27 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between the Company
and Stephen L. Ziemba(5)

10.28 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1996,
between the Company and Stephen L. Ziemba(8)

10.29 Employment Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Donald R. Sanders(11)

10.30 Amended IOL Supply Agreement, dated June 10, 1994, between the
Company and Chiron Vision Corporation(5)

10.31 Manufacturing Site Agreement, dated June 10, 1994, between the
Company and Chiron Vision Corporation(5)

10.32 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements granted to
Directors of Company in June and August 1994(5)

10.33 Agreement For Purchase And Sale Of Assets, dated October 1,
1994, between STAAR Surgical Australasia Pty. Ltd. and Bionica
Pty. Ltd.(5)

10.34 Agreement, dated October 10, 1995, with China Eye Joint
Venture(7)

10.35 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and John R. Wolf(11)

10.36 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from John R. Wolf to
the Company(11)

10.37 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and William C. Huddleston(11)

10.38 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company(11)

10.39 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Carl Manisco(11)

10.40 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from Carl Manisco to
the Company(11)

10.41 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Andrew F. Pollet(11)

10.42 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from Andrew F. Pollet
to the Company(11)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.43 Supply Agreement, dated January 28, 1998, between the Company
and Mentor Medical, Inc. (11)

10.44 Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, between the Company and
Mentor Corporation. (11)

10.45 Agreement regarding the purchase of shares effective January 5, 1998. (11)*

10.46 Revolving Line of Credit Note, dated June 1, 1998, between the
Company and Wells Fargo Bank. (11)

10.47 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Andrew F. Pollet(11)

10.48 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and John R. Wolf(11)

10.49 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998, between the
Company and Donald R. Sanders(11)

21 List of Significant Subsidiaries(11)

24 Powers of Attorney(11)

27.1 Financial Data Schedule at and for the year ended January 1,
1999(11)
</TABLE>

(Footnotes to Exhibits):

(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-18, File No. 2-83434, as filed on April 29, 1983
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-37248, as filed on October 11, 1990
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-76404, as filed on March 11, 1994
(4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8, File No. 33-60241, as filed on June 15, 1995
(5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 30, 1994, as filed on March 30, 1995
(6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on June 6, 1995, as filed on May 12, 1995
(7) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 29, 1995, as filed on March 28, 1996
(8) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended January 3, 1997, as filed on April 2, 1997
(9) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on May 29, 1998, as filed on May 1, 1998.
(10) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended January 1, 1998, as filed on April 1, 1998
(11) Filed herewith
(12) Re-filed herewith pursuant to Reg. (S)229.10(d)

* Certain confidential information redacted and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of Regulation C of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.