STAAR Surgical
STAA
#6046
Rank
$1.12 B
Marketcap
$22.47
Share price
0.40%
Change (1 day)
-18.05%
Change (1 year)
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

[X] Annual

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 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)

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

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

(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 27, 2000 was approximately $148,100,000 based upon the
closing price per share of the Common Stock of $12.25 on that date.

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's classes of Common Stock as of
March 27, 2000:

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value -- [[14,728,316]] 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 2000 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.

1
ADVISEMENT

THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, BUT RATHER ARE BASED ON
CURRENT EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY, BELIEFS AND
ASSUMPTIONS. WORDS SUCH AS "MAY," "COULD," "WOULD," "ANTICIPATES," "EXPECTS,"
"INTENDS," "PLANS," "PROJECTS," "BELIEVES," "SEEKS," "ESTIMATES" AND SIMILAR
EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE
STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS, SOME OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF
MANAGEMENT, ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AND COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE EXPRESSED OR FORECASTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
DO NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH REFLECT
MANAGEMENT'S VIEW ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K.

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 which was created for the purpose of developing,
producing, and marketing Intraocular Lenses ("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 IOLs and the Wave(TM) Phacoemuslification Machine.
The Company's AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is used in preventing the 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 1999 are discussed below.

During the year ending December 31, 1999, the Company continued
to focus on expanding its product markets to include refractive and glaucoma
products as well as cataract products, and also continued to expand global sales
of its products, thereby increasing its international revenues. Revenues for
1999 were $59.2 million, an increase of $4.1 million, or more than 7.4%, from
1998. Net earnings for 1999 amounted to $2.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted
share, compared to $2.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, reported in 1998.
Significant operational matters which affected net earnings for 1999 included
sizeable research expenses relating to the clinical trials of the ICLs(TM) and
the AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device in the United States and the clinical trials
of the ICL(TM) lenses in Canada, and increased marketing expenses, which will
continue into 2000, to prepare for the launch of the Company's collamer IOL.
Finally, the Company made a significant investment in laser technology by
leasing five excimer lasers through its subsidiary, Laser Implant and Technology
Centers, a Delaware corporation ("LITC"). LITC provides the use of the excimer
lasers to ophthalmologists in exchange for a per patient service fee.

The clinical trials of the Company's newer products, the ICL(TM)
and AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device, continued to progress during 1999. The
Company completed the enrollment for the clinical trial,

2
of its ICL(TM) for the correction of myopia, completed Phase II clinical trials
and began Phase III clinical trials of its ICL(TM) for the correction of
hyperopia, and completed enrollment for the clinical trials for the AQUA-
FLOW(TM) glaucoma device. In recognition of the continued need for better
products to correct cataractous conditions in a population that, world-wide, is
aging, the Company developed the Collamer IOL(TM), made from a highly
biocompatible proprietary Collamer material. The Company filed an application
for pre-market approval of this product with the United States Food and Drug
Administration ("FDA") and, in anticipation of receiving pre-market approval,
the Company began tooling for its manufacture and preparing for its launch into
the market place in the year 2000. In 1999 the Company also began feasibility
studies relating to the development of a Toric ICL(TM) to correct or improve
astigmatism in both myopic (near-sighted) and hyperopic (far-sighted)
individuals. Finally, 1999 also saw the acquisition by the Company of a majority
of the outstanding shares of common stock of Circuit Tree Medical, Inc., the
manufacturer of the WAVE(TM) phacoemulsification machine, which the Company
believes is superior to other phacoemulsification machines in the marketplace.

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, which permits
the Company to market the lens in countries belonging to the European Union.
During 1999 the Company filed an application with the Health Care Financing
Administration to have the Toric(TM) IOL designated as a "new technology". The
"new technology" designation allows surgeons to receive an additional $50 per
lens above the standard Medicare reimbursement rate for the next five years. The
Company believes that the higher reimbursement rate will be an incentive to
physicians to implant the Toric(TM) IOL when appropriate, thereby smoothing the
way to marketplace acceptance of the product and increasing the Company's
revenues.

In 1999 the Company completed beta site testing of the Wave(TM)
Phacoemulsification Machine, which removes the cataractous debris resulting from
the destruction of the patient's natural lens during cataract surgery. The
Company will re-introduce the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine to the United
States market during 2000.


1999 also saw the Company's investment in laser technology.
Through its subsidiary, LITC, the Company leased five excimer lasers which are
used by ophthalmologists in exchange for a per patient usage fee.

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 1999 the cataract market remained the primary source of the
Company's revenues. See NOTE 16 TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, for
geographic segments. The Company operates as one business segment.

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

3
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.

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:

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 136 million people
are in need of some type of vision correction. Of this group, approximately 71
million (52%) had some degree of myopia (near-sightedness), approximately 65
million (48%) had some degree of hyperopia (far-sightedness), and approximately
45 million (33%) had some degree of astigmatism. Most individuals over age 45
also had presbyopia (far-sightedness resulting from a loss of elasticity in the
lens of the eye, usually as a result of aging). Approximately 25 million (35%)
of those individuals with myopia had moderate to high myopia, which is defined
as greater than 2.5 diopters and 23 million (35%) of those individuals with
hyperopia 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. Approximately 50% of the world's population needs
some form of vision correction and more than $25 billion is spent annually,
worldwide, on correcting vision problems.

In the United States, people are seeking to correct their vision
by means other than glasses and contact lenses. In 1999, approximately 970,000
laser procedures were performed to correct vision problems. Analysts have
projected that this market will grow to over 3 million procedures per year by
2002. Some analysts have even predicted that in the year 2000, over 1.6 million
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 2.4 million IOLs were implanted in the United States in 1999,
generating approximately $251 million in sales. The Company believes that
approximately 2.5 million IOLs were implanted outside the United States during
1999 (not including China and Russia, for which no reliable data exists),
generating an additional $250 million of sales. The Company believes that
approximately 88% of the domestic market for IOLs in 1999 was held by foldable
IOLs, compared to

4
approximately 15% in 1992, and that approximately 60% 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 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 4 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 $1.4 billion. It is estimated that 125,000
trabeculectomies and 200,000 laser trabeculoplasties were performed in the
United States alone in 1999, representing total expenditures of approximately
$325 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 natural 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) affords a number of
advantages over existing refractive surgical procedures, such as radial
keratotomy, photo-refractive keratectomy and laser in-situs keratomileusis,
including 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) and keratoconus (a condition
causing marked astigmatism).

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 enrollment of Phase III of the IDE clinical
trials for the correction of myopia and Phase II of the clinical trials for the
correction of hyperopia, pursuant to which 350 ICLs(TM) for the correction of
myopia and 72 ICLs(TM) for the correction of hyperopia have been implanted, and
is presently engaged in Phase III of the IDE for the correction of

5
hyperopia, pursuant to which 278 additional ICLs(TM) will be implanted. During
the year 2000, the Company expects to submit an application to begin clinical
trials for a Toric ICL(TM). 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 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 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 70% of
total revenues for its 1999 fiscal year, approximately 71% of total revenues for
its 1998 fiscal year and approximately 85% of total revenues for its 1997 fiscal
year.

The Company has developed and currently markets worldwide the
Toric(TM) IOL, a toric 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.

During 1999 the Company began taking steps to launch its Collamer
IOL, which the Company anticipates will receive FDA pre-market approval early
in 2000. The Company believes that the Collamer IOL is superior to other IOLs in
the marketplace due to the biocompatibility of the material from which it is
made, which is better tolerated by the eye, thereby resulting in less
irritation.

Phacoemulsification (phaco) machines are used during cataract
surgery to remove the patient's

6
cataractous lens, usually through a small incision. The most desired equipment
is efficient, reliable, easily maintained, and cost effective. There are
approximately 1000 to 1500 phaco machines sold annually at prices ranging from
$20,000 to $85,000. The market for this equipment ranges from $50 million to
$100 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 510(k) approval. The Company has applied for CE
Mark approval 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.

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 a porous material that is compatible with human tissue and 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 that the compatibility of the human eye with
the material from which the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device is made and the minimally
invasive nature of the surgery offer several advantages over continued use of
drugs and existing surgical procedures, including: (i) greater effectiveness in
treatment of the disease, (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 which 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 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 195 patients. The enrollment has been concluded and
a pre-market application to the FDA for approval of the AQUA-FLOW(TM) device for
marketing in the United States should be completed in the latter part of 2000.
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
7
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 as well as through the Company's sales force. 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 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 silicone 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
manufactured for the Company by its subsidiary, Circuit Tree Medical, Inc. The
components used in the manufacture of the Wave(TM) Phacoemulsification Machine
are available from multiple sources at competitive prices.

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 ophthalmic 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.

8
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 (the 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 patent of any single product.

During 1999, in connection with its acquisition of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Circuit Tree Medical, Inc. the Company acquired
patents related to the Wave (TM) phacoemulsification machine and other related
technologies.

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 other marks and has applied for registration for
some of these marks.

Although the Company believes that it has all rights necessary to
market its products and services without infringing upon any patents, copyrights
or trademarks held by others, there can be no assurance that conflicting patent,
copyright or trademark rights do not exist. If such claims were to exist, the
Company may be unable to take advantage of the brand name recognition it is
attempting to build or to continue manufacturing and marketing its products. In
addition, such claims could result in substantial costs and diversion of
resources and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. The Company relies on trade
secret protection and confidentiality and/or license agreements with its
consultants, customers, partners and others to protect its proprietary rights.
Effective intellectual property protection may not be guaranteed or even
available in every country in which the Company's products are distributed or
made available. There can be no assurance that others will not independently
develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or
otherwise gain access to the Company's trade secrets or disclose such
technology, or that the Company can meaningfully protect its trade secrets.
Litigation to enforce and/or defend intellectual property rights is costly.
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 patented foldable
technology 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.


9
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 long 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.

The Company believes its primary competition in the development
and sale of products used to surgically correct cataracts, namely foldable IOLs
and phacoemulsification 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 that 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 Under
the "Medical Device Amendments of 1976" (the "Medical Device Act"), a section of
the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, the FDA has the authority to adopt
regulations that: (i) set standards for medical devices; (ii) require proof of
safety and effectiveness prior to marketing devices which the FDA believes
require pre-market clearance; (iii) require test data approval prior to clinical
evaluation of human use; (iv) permit detailed inspections of device
manufacturing facilities; (v) establish "good manufacturing practices" that must
be followed in device manufacture; (vi) require reporting of product defects to
the FDA; and (vii) prohibit device exports that do not

10
comply with the Medical Device Act unless they comply with established foreign
regulations, do not conflict with foreign laws, and the FDA and the health
agency of the importing country determine export is not contrary to public
health. Most of the Company's products are "medical devices intended for human
use" within the meaning of the Medical Device Act and are, therefore, subject to
FDA regulation.

The Medical Device Act establishes complex procedures for
compliance based upon FDA regulations that designate devices as Class I (general
controls, such as compliance with labeling and record-keeping requirements),
Class II (performance standards in addition to general controls) or Class III
(pre-market approval application ("PMAA") before commercial marketing). Class
III devices are the most extensively regulated because the FDA has determined
they are life-supporting, are of substantial importance in preventing impairment
of health, or present a potential unreasonable risk of illness or injury. The
effect of assigning a device to Class III is to require each manufacturer to
submit to the FDA a PMAA that includes information on the safety and
effectiveness of the device.

A medical device that is substantially equivalent to a directly
related medical device previously in commerce may be eligible for the FDA's
abbreviated pre-market notification "510(k) review" process. 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 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.

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. With the exception of the
collamer IOL, 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. During 1999, the Company completed the enrollment for Phase III
of the clinical study of the ICL(TM) that corrects myopic conditions and began
Phase III of the clinical study of the ICL(TM) that corrects hyperopic
conditions. At this time the Company plans to submit applications to the FDA for
pre-market approval of its ICL(TM) products in late 2002 or early 2003. The
Company has also completed enrollment for the clinical trials of its AQUA-
FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and plans to submit an application for pre-market
approval as soon as the FDA permits it to do so.

To comply with the Medical Device Act, the Company has incurred,
and will continue to incur, substantial costs relating to laboratory and
clinical testing of new products and the preparation and filing of documents in
the formats required by the FDA. The process of obtaining marketing clearance
from the FDA for new products and existing products can be time-consuming and
expensive, and there is no assurance that such clearances will be granted. The
Company also may encounter delays in bringing new products to market as a result
of being required by the FDA to conduct and document additional investigations
of product safety and effectiveness.

As a manufacturer of medical devices, the Company's manufacturing
processes and facilities are subject to continuing review by the FDA and various
state agencies to insure compliance with good manufacturing practices. These
agencies inspect the Company and its facilities from time to time to determine
whether the Company is in compliance with various regulations relating to
manufacturing practices, validation, testing, quality control and product
labeling. These regulations depend heavily on administrative interpretation by
the various agencies, and can be influenced by adverse publicity and political
pressure. There can be no assurance that future interpretations made by the FDA
or other regulatory bodies will not adversely affect the Company. A
determination that the Company is in violation of such regulations could lead to
imposition of

11
various penalties, including the issuance of warning letters, injunctive relief,
consent decrees, product recalls or product seizures.

In California, the Company is also subject to regulation by the
local Air Pollution Control District and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency as a result of some of the chemicals used in its manufacturing
process.

Medical device laws and regulations similar to those described
above are also in effect in some of the countries to which the Company exports
its products. These range from comprehensive device approval requirements for
some or all of the Company's medical device products to requests for product
data or certifications.

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 Union
(the "Union") require that all medical products 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 adopted rules that limit
Medicare reimbursement for IOLs implanted in ambulatory surgical centers to a
flat fee of $150 and for IOL's implanted in hospitals to $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

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 17 employees. Over the past year, the Company
has principally focused its research and development efforts on: (i) developing
the Company's Toric ICL(TM), an enhanced AQUA-FLOW(TM) glaucoma device and IOLs
and ICLs(TM) for the correction of presbyopia, (ii) improving insertion and
delivery systems for the Company's foldable products; (iii) generally improving
the manufacturing systems and procedures for all products to reduce
manufacturing costs; (iv) improving the Company's phacoemulsification equipment;
and (v) developing products for the refractive market. Research and development
expenses amounted to approximately $4,339,000, $3,570,000 and $3,936,000 for the
Company's

12
1999, 1998 and 1997 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 environmental 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 80% of a major European sales subsidiary that
distributes both the Company's products and products from various competitors.

EMPLOYEES

The Company and its subsidiaries had a total of 281 employees as
of December 31, 1999, including 56 in administration, 75 in marketing and
sales, 17 in research and development and technical services and 133 in
manufacturing, quality control and shipping.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS

Approximately $28,658,000, $25,345,000 and $30,397,000 of the
Company's overall revenues were generated in the United States for its 1999,
1998 and 1997 fiscal years, respectively, constituting approximately 48%, 46%
and 67% 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 $23,995,000, $26,453,000 and $8,924,000 in revenues for
the Company's 1999, 1998 and 1997 fiscal years, respectively, constituting
approximately 41%, 48% and 20% of the Company's overall revenues for such
respective fiscal years. The balance of the Company's foreign sales were
distributed among the Asian/Pacific, Middle Eastern, South African and South
American geographic areas. Most all products sold in 1999 were manufactured in
the United States and Switzerland. 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

13
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
103,000 square feet. The leases expire between 2001 and 2003, and currently
require aggregate payments of approximately $42,000 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 $10,000 per month. The Company believes its
properties to be suitable and adequate for its purposes.


ITEM 3. PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is party to various claims and legal proceedings
arising out of the normal course of its business. These claims and legal
proceedings relate to contractual rights and obligations, employment matters,
and claims of product liability. While there can be no assurance that an adverse
determination of any such matters could not have a material adverse impact in
any future period, management does not believe, based upon information known to
it, that the final resolution of any of these matters will have a material
adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial position and annual
results of operations and cash flows.


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 December 31, 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:

PERIOD HIGH LOW
------ ---- ---

1999: Fourth Quarter 12.375 9.375
Third Quarter 16.250 10.500
Second Quarter 13.875 7.375
First Quarter 10.938 7.125

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

14
The last reported sale price for the Company's Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National Market on March 27, 2000 was $12.25 per share. As of
March 27, 2000, there were approximately 879 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 further develop 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 December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999, January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997, and
December 29, 1995. 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 December 31, 1999 and January
1, 1999, 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 January 3,1997, and
December 29, 1995, and the consolidated balance sheet data set forth below at
January 2, 1998, January 3, 1997, and December 29, 1995, 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
-------------------------------------------------------
December January January January December
31, 1, 2, 3, 29,
1999 1999 1998 1997 1995
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(In thousands, except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales ........................................ $ 58,955 $ 54,244 $ 42,480 $ 41,213 $ 34,180
Royalty and other income ..................... 253 899 3,040 1,000 514
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues ............................ 59,208 55,143 45,520 42,213 34,694
Cost of sales ................................ 22,935 18,533 10,262 10,196 8,441
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit .............................. 36,273 36,610 35,258 32,017 26,253
Selling general and administrative
General and administrative ................ 7,939 6,770 6,334 5,628 5,000
Marketing and selling ..................... 19,879 18,709 12,719 12,227 10,911
Research and development .................. 4,339 3,570 3,936 4,085 3,254
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total selling general and
administrative........................ 32,157 29,049 22,989 21,940 19,165
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income ............................. 4,116 7,561 12,269 10,077 7,088
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total other income (expense) ........... (681) (763) (579) 153 303
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes, minority
interest and cumulative effect of
change in accounting method ................ 3,435 6,798 11,690 10,230 7,391
Income tax provision (benefit)(1) ............ 862 1,999 4,271 3,339 (91)
Minority Interest ............................ 419 662 -- -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Net income before accounting change .......... 2,154 4,137 7,419 6,891 7,482
Cumulative effect of accounting change ....... -- (1,680)
Net income ................................... $ 2,154 $ 2,457 $ 7,419 $ 6,891 $ 7,482
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>

15
<TABLE>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Diluted income per share before effect of
change in accounting method ................ $ 0.15 $ 0.29 $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.55
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Basic net income per share ................... $ 0.15 $ 0.18 $ 0.57 $ 0.53 $ 0.59
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Diluted net income per share ................. $ 0.15 $ 0.17 $ 0.53 $ 0.50 $ 0.55
======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Weighted average number of basic shares ...... 14,157 13,542 13,124 12,910 12,756
Weighted average number of diluted shares .... 14,756 14,268 14,113 13,867 13,679


BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital .............................. 25,590 $ 26,925 $ 24,936 $ 15,000 $ 16,335
Total assets ................................. 85,273 73,290 62,391 52,056 38,803
Notes payable and current portion of
long-term debt ............................... 2,691 2,312 1,608 8,193 4,029
Long-term debt ............................... 13,673 10,021 5,750 844 1,212
Stockholders' equity ......................... 52,684 47,706 44,783 36,604 28,678
</TABLE>

(1) Includes recognition of deferred tax asset of $900,000 for 1995.

The following table sets forth unaudited operating data for each
of the specified quarters of the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999 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
December 31, 1999
(in thousands except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues 14,783 14,774 13,824 $ 15,827
Gross Profit 9,038 9,285 8,846 9,104
Income Before Accounting Change 673 677 527 277
Basic Income Per Share .05 .05 .04 .02
Diluted Income Per Share .05 .05 .04 .02

For the Fiscal Year Ended
January 1, 1999

Revenues $ 14,101 $ 13,983 $ 12,901 $ 14,158
Gross Profit 9,817 10,155 8,323 8,315
Net Income 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

</TABLE>
(1) Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method for
start-up expenses.


16
ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Except for the historical information contained in this Annual Report, the
matters discussed in Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition
And Results Of Operations are forward-looking statements, the accuracy of which
is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ
significantly from the discussion of such matters in the forward-looking
statements.

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
December January January 1998 1997
31, 1, 2, vs. vs.
1999 1999 1998 1999 1998
--------- -------- ------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total revenues......................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 7.4% 21.1%
Cost of sales ........................................ 38.7 33.6 22.5 23.7 80.6
----- ----- -----
Gross profit ......................................... 61.3 66.4 77.5 (.9) 3.8
----- ----- -----
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative ........................ 13.4 12.3 13.9 17.3 6.9
Marketing and selling ............................. 33.6 33.9 27.9 6.3 47.1
Research and development .......................... 7.3 6.5 8.6 21.5 (9.3)
----- ----- -----
Total costs and expenses ....................... 54.3 52.7 50.5 10.7 26.4
----- ----- -----
Operating income ..................................... 7.0 13.7 27.0 (45.6) (38.4)
Other expense, net .................................... (1.2) (1.4) (1.3) (10.6) 31.7
----- ----- -----
Income before income taxes ........................... 5.8 12.3 25.7 (49.5) (41.8)
Income tax provision ................................. 1.5 3.6 9.4 (56.9) (20.3)

Accounting Change-Elimination of Minority Interest..... .7 4.2 --- (82.1) 100.0
----- ----- -----
Net income ........................................... 3.6% 4.5% 16.3% (12.3)% (66.9)%
===== ===== =====
</TABLE>

17
1999 Fiscal Year Compared to 1998 Fiscal Year

Revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1999 were $59.2
million, representing a 7.4% increase over the $55.1 million in revenues for the
year ended January 1, 1999. The primary reasons for the increase in revenues
were increased IOL market share in the United States which had been lost in 1998
due to a new product introduction by a competitor, increased revenue from the
sales of the Toric(TM) IOL, increased revenue from sales of the Company's
ICLs(TM) and revenue from new activities in the United States. Incremental
revenues from the increase in United States IOL market share, exclusive of
increases related to sales of the Company's Toric(TM) IOL, amounted to
approximately $1.1 million, incremental revenue from the Company's Toric(TM) IOL
and the Company's ICLs(TM) was approximately $1.5 million and $1.1 million
respectively. During 1999 the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary that
operates refractive laser centers and began selling custom surgical packs to its
U.S. customers. Revenue from these new activities accounted for approximately
$1.0 million. These increases were offset partially due to a decline in other
revenue.

The Company is 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 its increased international presence, its U.S. approval of new
products such as its Collamer(TM) IOL and the reintroduction of the WAVE(TM)
Phacoemulsification Machine.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased to 38.7% of revenue for the
year ended December 31, 1999 from 33.6% of revenue for the year ended January 1,
1999. The primary reasons for this 5.1% increase relates to lower average
selling prices for IOLs, higher cost to manufacture during the second half of
1998 and early 1999 and in a shift in product mix to the three-piece Elastimide
lens which, by its design, is more costly to manufacture. The decline in
average selling price was due in part to the addition of a very large customer
and the bulk sale of IOLs during the fourth quarter at lower than average
pricing. The reduced sales in 1998 resulted in lowered production activity in
the second half of 1998 and early 1999 therefore, the units produced in those
time periods reflected a higher per unit cost from absorption of fixed expenses.
Additionally new activities of 1999, laser centers and custom surgical packs,
have a higher cost of sales as a percentage of sales when compared to the other
products the Company offers. Anticipated increased sales of IOLs, the addition
of the Collamer(TM) IOL manufacturing at the Company's California facility and
the expected higher than current average selling prices for the Collamer(TM) IOL
and Toric(TM) IOL, are expected to result in lower cost of sales as a percentage
of sales for the 2000 fiscal year. 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 December 31, 1999 was $7.9 million, or 13.4% of revenues, as compared
to $6.8 million, or 12.3% of revenues for the prior fiscal year. This increase
in dollars is primarily attributable to the Company starting to build the
administrative infrastructure required to support the expected growth as its
new products enter the marketplace. Additionally, there were increases in
professional service fees, the costs of administration of the new laser center
subsidiary, and travel and other expenses resulting from managing the sales
subsidiaries. The increase as a percent of revenues was due to the expenses
increasing at a rate greater than the current growth rate of revenues.

Marketing and Selling. Marketing and selling expense for the year
ended December 31, 1999 was $19.9 million or 33.6% of revenues, as compared to
$18.7 million or 33.9% of revenues for the prior fiscal year. The primary
reasons for this increase are the marketing costs related to the product launch
of the Company's Toric(TM) IOL in 1999 and preparation for the product launch of
the Collamer IOL in early 2000. Additionally the Company has continued to
increase the expenses for product management to prepare for broader entry into
the refractive and glaucoma markets.

18
Research and Development. Research and development expense for the
year ended December 31, 1999 was $4.3 million, or 7.3% of revenues as compared
to $3.6 million or 6.5% of revenues for the year ended January 1, 1999. Research
and development expense increased over the prior year due to increased spending
related to monitoring of the clinical trials for the ICL(TM) for the correction
of myopia, ICL(TM) for the correction of hyperopia and the AQUA-FLOW(TM)
glaucoma device. Additionally expenses increased related to the completion of
the patient enrollment and implants for the clinical trial for the ICL(TM) for
the correction of myopia and increased expenditures for developing new injection
technologies for IOLs and ICLs(TM). The Company expects continued expense of
clinical monitoring as these studies continue and expects research and
development expense to be in the range of $4.3 million to $4.6 million range.

Other Expense or Income, Net. Other expense for the year ended
December 31, 1999 was a net of approximately $.7 million or 1.2% of revenues as
compared to approximately $.8 million or 1.4% of revenues for the prior year.
The primary cause for the decrease in other expense was due to increased
earnings from the Company's joint venture with Canon Staar.

Income Tax Provision. Income tax provision decreased to $.9 million
or 1.4% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 1999 compared to $2.0
million or 3.6% of revenues for the prior fiscal year. The reasons for the
reduction stem from the Company's lower pretax earnings and the receipt of more
than 50% of its revenues from international sources, where tax rates are more
favorable.

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.

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."

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 relating to

19
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 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 $3.5 million to $4.0 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, customer, initiating a new process in an
existing facility, or commencing some new operation.

Although SOP 98-5 is in effect 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.

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 and refinanced on an unsecured
basis in June 1997, June 1998, and June 1999, 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 2002. Borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 1999
were approximately $8.8 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

20
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 note is due March 1, 2003. The principal amount outstanding as of
December 31, 1999 was approximately $2.6 million.

In July 1999, the Company's domestic lender supplemented the
Company's domestic credit facility with a term note to the Company of $4
million. Borrowings are payable in monthly installments of $66,667 plus
interest at a rate not to exceed the prime interest rate (8.50% at 12/31/99)
less .25% (or at the election of the Company, if more than $500,000 is
outstanding, at a rate of interest equal to LIBOR, plus 1.75%). The note is due
August 1, 2004. The principal amount outstanding as of December 31, 1999 was
approximately $3.8 million.

The line-of-credit and the notes described above require the
Company to satisfy certain financial tests and limits the amount of other
indebtedness the Company may incur. The Company was in compliance with the
financial restrictive covenants as of December 31, 1999.

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 $749,000 (1.1 million Swiss Francs) at a
5.0% rate of interest as of December 31, 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 December
31, 1999 under the line of credit were approximately $880,000.

Under the term loan, STAAR Surgical AG obtained a $749,000 (1.1
million Swiss Francs) loan guaranteed partially by the Swiss government and
partially by the Company. Interest on this loan is 1/4 of 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. The final payment was made in December
1999.

As of December 31, 1999, the Company had net working capital of
approximately $25.6 million, as compared to $26.9 million and $24.9 million as
of January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, respectively. The decrease in working
capital as of December 31, 1999 was primarily attributable to increases in
inventories of $2.2 million and prepaid and deposits of $0.6 million, and other
current assets of $1.2 million offset by a decrease in cash of $1.3 million and
increases in accounts payable of $2.5 million and other current liabilities of
$1.0 million. The increase in working capital as of January 1, 1999 was
attributable to increases in inventories of $2.1 million, prepaid and other
assets of $0.7 million, accounts receivable of $0.7 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 $0.7
million.

As of December 31, 1999, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
approximately $3.3 million as compared to $4.7 million as of January 1, 1999.
The decrease in cash was due to increased investments in property and equipment
as the Company prepares for the launch of the Collamer IOL. The decline in the
Company's cash position for the year ended January 1, 1999 was attributable to a
decrease in cash provided by operations.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 1999
were approximately $4.9 million, an increase of approximately $0.6 million from
the prior fiscal year. The increase in cash from operations was primarily due
to changes in operating working capital. The decrease in cash flows for the
year ended January 1, 1999 was principally attributable to lower net income of
approximately $5.0 million offset by increased depreciation and amortization
expenses and the write-off of start up costs.

Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 1999 was
$10.7 million, representing an increase of approximately $0.6 million relative
to the year ended January 1, 1999. This increase was primarily due to purchases
of property and equipment and patent acquisitions made during the year. Cash
used in investing activities for the year ended January 1, 1999 increased $2.7
million relative to January 2, 1998. This increase was due primarily to the
acquisition of a 60% interest in a European sales subsidiary.

21
Cash flows from financing activities for the year ended December
31, 1999 were $5.2 million, representing an increase of approximately $1.1
million. This increase was principally attributable to an increase in proceeds
from the issuance of common stock. Cash flows from financing activities for the
year ended January 1, 1999 were $4.1 million, representing an increase of
approximately $4.0 million from the prior fiscal year, which was principally
attributable to the loan obtained by the Company to acquire a 60% interest in a
European sales subsidiary.

The Company's capital expenditures for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999 were approximately $4.5 million and $2.0
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 2000
are approximately $2.0 million, to be used primarily to improve and expand the
Company's manufacturing capacity for the Collamer IOL, ICL(TM) and other new
products.

Capitalized additions for patents and licenses for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999 were approximately $3.9
million and $2.1 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 2000 for patents and licenses.

Management believes that cash flow from operations and available
credit facilities, together with its current cash balances, will provide
adequate economic 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.

22
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

Prior to December 31, 1999, there was a great deal of concern
regarding the ability of computers to adequately recognize 21st century dates
from 20th century dates due to the two-digit date fields used by many systems.
Most reports to date, however, are that computer systems are functioning
normally and the compliance and remediation work accomplished during the years
leading up to 2000 was effective to prevent any problems. To date, the Company
has not experienced any such computer difficulty; however, computer experts have
warned that there may still be residual consequences of the change in centuries.
Any such difficulties, including but not limited to those listed below, may,
depending upon their pervasiveness and severity, have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations:

. a failure to fully identify all year 2000 dependencies in the
Company's systems;

. a failure to fully identify all year 2000 dependencies in the
systems of third parties with whom the Company does business;

. a failure of any third party with whom the Company does business
to adequately address their year 2000 issues;

. the failure of any contingency plans developed by the Company to
protect its business and operations from year 2000-related
interruptions; and

. delays in the implementation of new systems resulting from year
2000 problems.


UNCERTAINTIES AND RISK FACTORS

The Company may be subject to a number of significant
uncertainties and risks including those described below and those described
elsewhere in this Annual Report, which may ultimately affect the operations of
the Company in a manner and to a degree that 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 efficiency, performance and attributes
of these new products; the ability of the Company to obtain necessary regulatory
approvals to commercially market the 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

23
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 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 these 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, 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

24
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 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 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

25
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 the Company were to do this, 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. 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
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 the 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 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

All sales by the Company are denominated in US dollars or the
currency of the country of origin and, accordingly, the Company does not enter
into hedging transactions with regard to any foreign currencies. Currency
fluctuations can, however, increase the price of the Company's products to its
foreign customers which can adversely impact the level of the Company's export
sales from time to time. The majority of the Company's cash equivalents are bank
accounts, and the Company does not believe it has significant market risk
exposure with regard to its investments.

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.

26
The information required in this item is incorporated herein by
reference to portions of the Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the
close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.


ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON
FORM 8-K
Page
----

(a)(1) Financial statements required by Item 14 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 December 31, 1999 and
January 1, 1999 F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years
ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and
January 2, 1998 F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for
the years ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999,
and January 2, 1998 F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years
ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999, and
January 2, 1998 F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-12

(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-26

II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves F-27

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 and the notes thereto

(3) Exhibits
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation, as amended/(12)/

3.2 By-laws, as amended/(12)/

4.1 1990 Stock Option Plan/(1)/

4.2 1991 Stock Option Plan/(2)/

4.3 1995 STAAR Surgical Company Consultant Stock Plan
/(3)/

4.4 1996 STAAR Surgical Company Non-Qualified Stock
Plan/(7)/

4.5 Stockholders' Rights Plan, dated effective April 20,
1995/(5)/

4.6 1998 STAAR Surgical Company Stock Plan, adopted
April 17, 1998/(8)/

10.1 Joint Venture Agreement, dated May 23, 1988, between
the Company, Canon Sales Co, Inc. and Canon,
Inc./(10)/

27
10.2      License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between
Chiron Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company/(4)/

10.3 License Agreement, dated March 9, 1990, between
Chiron Ophthalmics, Inc. and the Company/(4)/

10.4 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from John
R. Wolf to the Company/(7)/

10.5 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28,
1991, between John R. Wolf, the Company and Pollet &
Associates/(7)/

10.6 Promissory Note, dated February 28, 1991, from
William C. Huddleston to the Company/(7)/

10.7 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated February 28,
1991, between William C. Huddleston, the Company and
Pollet & Associates/(7)/

10.8 Promissory Note, dated May 26, 1992, from the Andrew
F. Pollet and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust dated
March 6, 1990/(9)/

10.9 Deed of Trust, dated September 21, 1992, by the
Andrew F. Pollet and Sally M. Pollet Revocable Trust
dated March 6, 1990/(9)/

10.10 Promissory Note, dated July 3, 1992, from William C.
Huddleston to the Company/(9)/

10.11 Stock Pledge/Security Agreement, dated July 3, 1992,
between William C. Huddleston the Company and Pollet
& Associates/(9)/

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/(9)/

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/(9)/

10.14 Patent License Agreement, dated May 24, 1995, with
Eye Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and
Technology Complex/(6)/

10.15 Patent License Agreement, dated January 1, 1996,
with Eye Microsurgery Intersectoral Research and
Technology Complex/(7)/

10.16 Promissory Note, dated March 18, 1993, from William
C. Huddleston to the Company/(4)/

10.17 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated December
20, 1994, between the Company and John R. Wolf/(4)/

10.18 First Amendment To Sales Representative Agreement,
dated December 20, 1994, between the Company and
John R. Wolf/(4)/

28
10.19     Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between
the Company and William C. Huddleston/(4)/

10.20 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6,
1996, between the Company and William C.
Huddleston/(7)/

10.21 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between
the Company and Carl M. Manisco/(4)/

10.22 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6,
1996, between the Company and Carl M. Manisco/(7)/

10.23 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between
the Company and Michael J. Lloyd/(4)/

10.24 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6,
1996, between the Company and Michael J. Lloyd/(7)/

10.25 Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1994, between
the Company and Stephen L. Ziemba/(4)/

10.26 Modification To Employment Agreement, dated May 6,
1996, between the Company and Stephen L. Ziemba/(7)/

10.27 Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements
granted to Directors of the Company in June and
August 1994/(4)/

10.28 Agreement, dated October 10, 1995, with China Eye
Joint Venture/(6)/

10.29 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and John R. Wolf/(10)/

10.30 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from John
R. Wolf to the Company/(10)/

10.31 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and William C. Huddleston/(10)/

10.32 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from
William C. Huddleston to the Company/(10)/

10.33 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and Carl Manisco/(10)/

10.34 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from Carl
Manisco to the Company/(10)/

10.35 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and Andrew F. Pollet/(10)/

10.36 Promissory Note, dated September 4, 1998, from
Andrew F. Pollet to the Company/(10)/

29
10.37     Supply Agreement, dated January 28, 1998, between
the Company and Mentor Medical, Inc./(10)/

10.38 Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, between the
Company and Mentor Corporation./(10)/

10.39 Agreement effective January 4, 1998 (STAAR Surgical
AG)/(10)/

10.40 Revolving Line of Credit Note, dated June 1, 1998,
between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank./(10)/

10.41 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and Andrew F. Pollet/(10)/

10.42 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and John R. Wolf/(10)/

10.43 Stock Option Certificate, dated September 4, 1998,
between the Company and Donald R. Sanders/(10)/

10.44 Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 5, 1999 by
and among the Company, Circuit Tree Medical, Inc.,
Alex Urich and Michael Curtis/(11)/

10.45 License and Supply Agreement, dated May 6, 1999,
between LensTec Incorporated, Lenstec Barbados
Inc., STAAR Surgical AG and the Company /(11)/

10.46 Promissory Note, dated November 11, 1999, from Peter
J. Utrata, M.D. to the Company /(11)/

10.47 Promissory Note, dated November 12, 1999, from John
R. Wolf to the Company /(11)/

10.48 Promissory Note, dated November 17, 1999, from
William C. Huddleston to the Company /(11)/

10.49 Promissory Note, dated June 16, 1999, from Peter J.
Utrata, M.D. to the Company /(11)/

10.50 Agreement entered into on November 29, 1999 by and
between STAAR Surgical AG and /(11)/

10.51 Equipment Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 6,
1999, between Lenstec, Incorporated and the Company
/(11)/

10.52 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated June 16, 1999, by
Peter J. Utrata, M.D. in favor of the Company /(11)/

10.53 Revolving Line of Credit Note dated July 1, 1999,
between STAAR Surgical Company and Wells Fargo
Bank/(11)/

10.54 Term Note dated July 1, 1999, between STAAR Surgical
Company and Wells Fargo Bank/(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)/




(Footnotes to Exhibits):

(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-8, File No. 33-37248, as filed on October 11, 1990
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-8, File No. 33-76404, as filed on March 11, 1994
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-8, File No. 33-60241, as filed on June 15, 1995
(4) 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
(5) 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

30
(6)      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
(7) 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
(8) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its
Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 29, 1998, as filed on May 4,
1999.
(9) 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
(10) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended January 1, 1999, as filed on April 1, 1999
(11) Filed herewith
(12) Re-filed herewith pursuant to Reg.(S).229.10(d)

31
SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 30, 2000.

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 March 30, 2000 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/ Andrew F. Pollet* Director
- ----------------------------------
Andrew F. Pollet



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

33
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES


CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999,
JANUARY 1, 1999 AND JANUARY 2, 1998
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 December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999, 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 December 31, 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 financial position of STAAR
Surgical Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999,
and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 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 27, 2000

F-2
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

1999 1998
---------------- --------------
ASSETS
------
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,344,128 $ 4,689,574
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $376,078
and $232,841 (Note 1) 9,426,813 10,167,449

Other receivables (Note 7) 2,108,599 1,386,830
Inventories (Note 2) 22,318,131 20,139,979
Prepaids and deposits 2,874,221 2,270,836
Other current assets 2,567,569 1,353,554
Deferred income tax (Note 7) 927,918 1,108,761
---------------- --------------
Total current assets 43,567,379 41,116,983
---------------- --------------
Investment in joint venture (Note 4) 3,577,450 3,178,477
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 3) 12,676,480 10,379,997
Patents and licenses, net of accumulated amortization of $5,076,132
and $3,751,769 (Notes 8 and 9) 14,599,361 12,038,023
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $784,169 and $488,596 7,744,267 5,047,982
Other assets 3,108,337 1,528,150
---------------- --------------
$ 85,273,274 $ 73,289,612
================ ==============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
Notes payable (Note 5) $ 880,173 $ 1,034,801
Accounts payable 7,448,714 4,975,222
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6) 1,811,164 1,277,474
Deferred income tax (Note 7) 2,709,318 2,822,706
Other current liabilities (Note 12) 5,127,336 4,081,885
---------------- --------------
Total current liabilities 17,976,705 14,192,088
---------------- --------------
Long-term debt, net of current portion (Note 6) 13,673,254 10,021,287
Other long-term liabilities (Note 12) 403,631 513,699
---------------- --------------
Total liabilities 32,053,590 24,727,074
---------------- --------------
Minority interest 536,055 856,039
---------------- --------------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

Stockholders' equity (Notes 10 and 15):
Common stock, $.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; issued
and outstanding 14,752,339 and 13,994,593 147,523 139,946

Capital in excess of par value 51,205,459 46,039,428
Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,282,025) (536,491)
Retained earnings 9,471,835 7,317,778
---------------- --------------
59,542,792 52,960,661
Notes receivable from officers and directors (Note 10) (6,859,163) (5,254,162)
---------------- --------------
Total stockholders' equity 52,683,629 47,706,499
---------------- --------------
$ 85,273,274 $ 73,289,612
================ ==============

</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 December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales $ 58,954,700 $ 54,244,315 $ 42,480,014
Royalty and other income (Note 9) 253,441 898,443 3,039,571
------------- ------------- -------------
Total revenues 59,208,141 55,142,758 45,519,585

Cost of sales 22,934,939 18,533,319 10,261,748
------------- ------------- -------------
Gross profit 36,273,202 36,609,439 35,257,837
------------- ------------- -------------
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
General and administrative (Note 13) 7,939,083 6,769,791 6,333,781
Marketing and selling 19,878,986 18,709,076 12,719,166
Research and development 4,338,828 3,569,876 3,936,293
------------- ------------- -------------
Total selling, general and administrative expenses 32,156,897 29,048,743 22,989,240
------------- ------------- -------------
Operating income 4,116,305 7,560,696 12,268,597
------------- ------------- -------------
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of joint venture (Note 4) 586,143 438,314 336,437
Interest expense--net (683,072) (560,345) (595,810)
Other expense, net (584,886) (640,560) (319,808)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total other expense, net (681,815) (762,591) (579,181)
------------- ------------- -------------
Income before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect
of change in accounting method 3,434,490 6,798,105 11,689,416

Income tax provision (Note 7) 861,766 1,999,030 4,270,286
Minority interest 418,667 661,623 -
------------- ------------- -------------
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method 2,154,057 4,137,452 7,419,130
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 $ 2,154,057 $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130
============= ============= =============
Basic earnings per share (Notes 10 and 15):
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method $ .15 $ 0.30 $ 0.57
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method - (0.12) -
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income $ .15 $ 0.18 $ 0.57
============= ============= ==============
Dilutive earnings per share (Notes 10 and 15):
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting method $ .15 $ 0.29 $ 0.53
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method - (0.12) -
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income $ .15 $ 0.17 $ 0.53
============= ============= =============
</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 December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998

<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 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 - - - 65,00
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
Common stock issued upon exercise of
options (Note 10) 5,384 3,290,855 - - (1,605,001) 1,691,238
Common stock issued as payment for
acquisitions (Note 10) 2,708 2,497,286 - - - 2,499,994
Common stock repurchased and
cancelled (515) (622,110) - - - (622,625)
Foreign currency translation
adjustment - - - (745,534) - (745,534)
Net income - - 2,154,057 - - 2,154,057
-------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, at December 31, 1999 $147,523 $51,205,459 $ 9,471,835 $(1,282,025) $(6,859,163) $52,683,629
======== =========== ============ =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>

Comprehensive income and its components consist of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
----------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income $ 2,154,057 $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130
Foreign currency translation adjustment (745,534) 159,011 (534,929)
----------- ------------ ------------
Comprehensive income $ 1,408,523 $ 2,615,650 $ 6,884,201
=========== ============ ============
</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 December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
------------- -------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 2,154,057 $ 2,456,639 $ 7,419,130
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment 2,172,732 2,172,834 1,742,737
Amortization of intangibles 2,053,735 2,166,164 1,782,192
Write-off of start-up costs - 1,680,813 -
Change in deferred revenue (232,143) (232,143) 210,432
Equity in earnings of joint venture (586,143) (438,314) (336,437)
Deferred income taxes (17,222) (277,919) 3,322,939
Stock-based compensation expense - 85,000 84,000
Common stock issued for services - 65,000 325,000
Change in operating working capital, excluding effects of
acquisition (Note 14) (373,066) (4,061,214) (6,954,502)
Minority interest (319,984) 661,623 -
------------- -------------- -------------

Net cash provided by operating activities 4,851,966 4,278,483 7,595,491
------------- -------------- -------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment (4,469,214) (2,019,533) (2,845,929)
Increase in patents and licenses (3,911,916) (2,104,454) (3,217,728)
Increase in other assets (1,938,951) (1,718,231) (1,370,449)
Dividends received 187,170 - 60,414
Acquisitions (net of cash acquired) (540,683) (4,269,923) -
------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash used in investing activities (10,673,594) (10,112,141) (7,373,692)
------------- -------------- -------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase in borrowings under notes payable and long-term debt 3,733,333 4,433,648 1,109,480
Payments on other notes payable and long-term debt (1,474,663) (1,908,803) (2,679,075)
Net borrowings under line-of-credit 1,894,434 1,402,175 806,940
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants 1,510,613 362,165 1,022,493
Payments for repurchase of common stock (442,000) (204,100) (137,087)
------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 5,221,717 4,085,085 122,751
------------- -------------- -------------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (745,534) 159,011 (534,929)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (1,345,446) (1,589,562) (190,379)
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year 4,689,574 6,279,136 6,469,515
------------- -------------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year $ 3,344,128 $ 4,689,574 $ 6,279,136
============= ============== =============
</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 December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998


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 that 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 80% of a major European sales subsidiary that
distributes both the Company's products and products from various other
manufacturers.

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 as accumulated other comprehensive income. During 1999,
1998 and 1997, the net foreign translation (gain) loss was $745,534, $(159,011)
and $534,929 and net foreign currency transaction loss was $ 156,674, $120,737
and $228,547, 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.

F-7
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Years Ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998


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-FLOWTM and the ICLTM 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 a 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-8
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 fifteen
to twenty years. The Company periodically evaluates the recoverability 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 was encouraged. Accordingly, as of September 30, 1998,
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.

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


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.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash equivalents, receivables, 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 (which interest rates primarily float with prime), the amounts
reported approximate the fair value of the respective financial instruments.

Net Income Per Share

The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128,
Earnings per Share (SFAS 128), which 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

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income," ("SFAS 130"). 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.

F-10
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES-(Continued)


Segments of an Enterprise

The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131,
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," ("SFAS
131"). 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 resulted in expanded
disclosures for the year and all prior periods. See Note 16, Geographic and
Product Data.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year consolidated
financial statements to conform to the 1999 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-11
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998


NOTE 1--ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Domestic $ 5,258,117 $ 3,785,253
Foreign 4,544,774 6,615,037
------------ -------------

9,802,891 10,400,290
Less allowance for doubtful accounts 376,078 232,841
------------ -------------

$ 9,426,813 $ 10,167,449
============ =============
</TABLE>

NOTE 2--INVENTORIES

Inventories are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Raw materials and purchased parts $ 2,137,400 $ 2,189,154
Work in process 3,128,247 2,279,002
Finished goods 17,052,484 15,671,823
------------- -------------

$ 22,318,131 $ 20,139,979
============= =============
</TABLE>

NOTE 3--PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Machinery and equipment $ 16,147,260 $ 14,423,622
Furniture and fixtures 6,956,595 5,692,531
Leasehold improvements 4,339,670 3,659,375
------------- -------------

27,443,525 23,775,528
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 14,767,045 13,395,531
------------- -------------

$ 12,676,480 $ 10,379,997
============= =============
</TABLE>

F-12
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 uses the equity method of accounting for this investment.
The financial statements of CSC include assets of approximately $9,783,000 and
$7,740,000, and liabilities of approximately $2,131,000 and $1,689,000, as of
December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999, respectively.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
------------ ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Joint venture net income $ 1,172,286 $ 876,627 $ 672,873
Equity interest 50% 50% 50%
------------ ---------- ----------
Equity in earnings of joint venture $ 586,143 $ 438,314 $ 336,437
============ ========== ==========
</TABLE>

The Company recorded sales of certain IOL products to CSC of approximately
$1,917,000, $16,000 and $469,000 in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

NOTE 5--NOTES PAYABLE

The Company has a revolving credit facility with a Swiss bank, which provides
for borrowings up to $748,623 (1,125,000 Swiss Francs at the exchange rate at
December 31, 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 December 31, 1999
and January 1, 1999 were $880,173 (1,322,689 Swiss Francs) and $1,034,801
(1,437,339 Swiss Francs), respectively. As of December 31, 1999 and January 1,
1999, the balance exceeded the maximum allowable borrowings. The excess
borrowings were permitted due to adequate compensating cash balances.

NOTE 6--LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
--------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Note payable to bank, interest at a rate not to exceed prime less .5% payable
monthly, due June 1, 2002(1) $ 8,752,024 $ 6,857,590


Notes payable to bank, payable in monthly installments plus interest at a rate
not to exceed prime less .25% due March 1, 2003 (2) and August 1, 2004 (3) 6,358,481 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



Note payable to equipment vendor, interest at 13%, payable in monthly
installments plus interest through December 1999, secured by equipment 11,156 44,954


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 362,757 468,907


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

15,484,418 11,298,761
Less current portion 1,811,164 1,277,474
--------------- --------------
</TABLE>

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

<TABLE>



<S> <C> <C>
Long-term debt due after one year $ 13,673,254 $ 10,021,287
============== =============
</TABLE>

(1) In July 1999, 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 (8.50% at December 31, 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 line of credit
expires June 2002. Borrowings are not collateralized.

(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 (8.50% at December
31, 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.

(3) In July 1999, the Company's domestic lender supplemented the Company's
domestic credit facility with a term note to the Company of $4 million.
Borrowings are payable in monthly installments of $66,667 plus interest at
a rate not to exceed the prime interest rate (8.50% at December 31, 1999)
less .25% (or at the election of the Company, if more than $500,000 is
outstanding, at a rate of interest equal to LIBOR, plus 1.75%). The note is
due August 1, 2004.

The line-of-credit and the notes described above require the Company to
satisfy certain financial tests and limits the amount of other indebtedness
the Company may incur. The Company was in compliance with the financial
restrictive covenants as of December 31, 1999.



Annual future minimum payments under long-term debt as of December 31, 1999
consist of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Fiscal Year Long Term Debt
- ----------- ----------------
<S> <C>
2000 $ 1,811,164
2001 1,811,164
2002 10,188,316
2003 1,673,774
----------------
$ 15,484,418
================
</TABLE>

F-14
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>
1999 1998 1997
============== ============ =============
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current tax provision:
U.S. federal (net of $312,000, $0 and $1,258,000 tax benefit
from operating loss carryforwards) $ 480,939 $ 100,264 $ 245,000
State (649,758) 96,851 581,000
Foreign 963,130 1,384,008 121,357
--------------- ------------- -------------

Total current provision 794,311 1,581,123 947,357
--------------- ------------- -------------

Deferred tax provision (benefit):
U.S. federal and state 67,455 (328,990) 3,374,000
Foreign - 51,071 (51,071)
--------------- ------------- -------------

Total deferred provision 67,455 (277,919) 3,322,929
--------------- ------------- -------------

Provision for income taxes 861,766 1,303,204 4,270,286

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

Provision for income taxes, before cumulative effect of
change in accounting method $ 861,766 $ 1,999,030 $ 4,270,286
=============== ============= =============
</TABLE>

Included in the 1999 current federal net tax benefit is the usage of the 1999
net taxable loss of $916,000 through the carryback to 1997 to recover taxes
previously paid. Federal net operating loss carryforwards from years prior to
1997 were utilized in 1997. The Company has state tax net operating loss
carryforwards from 1999 of $1,183,000 expiring on various dates though 2019.

The Company has income taxes recoverable at December 31, 1999 of $2,023,922,
reported on the balance sheet as other receivables.

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>
1999 1998 1997
-------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Computed provision for taxes based on income at statutory rate 34.0% 34.0% 35.0%
Permanent differences 21.8 - (0.1)
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (22.3) (0.8) 4.7
Tax effect attributed to foreign operations (8.4) 1.6 (4.0)
Other - - 0.9
-------- ---------- --------

Effective tax provision rate 25.1% 34.8% 36.5%
======== ========== ========
</TABLE>

Undistributed earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries amounted to
approximately $4.0 million at December 31, 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-15
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 December 31, 1999 and
January 1, 1999 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
=============== ==============
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 112,000 $ 61,000
Inventory reserves and uniform capitalization 430,500 458,000
Accrued vacation 176,500 158,000
State taxes 118,500 82,000
AMT tax credit carryforwards - 349,000
Deferred revenue 90,500 -
--------------- --------------
Total deferred tax assets $ 928,000 $ 1,108,000
=============== ==============
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization (2,596,500) (2,645,000)
Discount on trade receivables (113,000) (177,000)
--------------- --------------
Total deferred tax liabilities $ (2,709,500) $ (2,822,000)
=============== ==============
</TABLE>

NOTE 8--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>
<S> <C>
Revenues $ 62,710
Net income $ 7,810
Net income per diluted share $ 0.55

</TABLE>

On November 29, 1999, the Company acquired an additional 20% of the shares of
a major European distributor for total consideration of approximately $1.5
million in cash, $1 million in shares and debt of $325,000, resulting in
goodwill of approximately $2.8 million.

Pro forma amounts for this acquisition are not included, as the effect on
operations is not material to the Company's financial statements.

On January 4, 1999 the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
shares of a distributor of ophthalmic products in exchange for $130,000 cash,
$150,000 in product allowances and assumption of $100,000 in liabilities. The
acquisition has been accounted for by the purchase method of accounting and
accordingly, the operating results have been included in the Company's
consolidated results of operation from the date of acquisition. The purchase
price has been allocated to the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired
of $380,000.

Pro forma amounts for this acquisition are not included, as the effect on
operations is not material to the Company's financial statements.

On December 5, 1999 the Company acquired 80% of the issued and outstanding
shares of a Company in the medical device industry in exchange for approximately
$500,000 in cash, $1.5 million in common stock and $500,000 in debt. The
acquisition has been accounted for by the purchase method of accounting and
accordingly, the company's operating results have been included in the Company's
operations from the date of acquisition. The purchase price has been allocated
to both the fair value of net tangible assets acquired of $87,000, and patents
of $2,437,587, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful life of 15 years.

The pro forma amounts for this acquisition are not included, as the effect on
operations is not material to the Company's financial statements.


NOTE 9--PATENTS AND LICENSING AGREEMENTS

During 1995, the Company acquired from the Intersectoral Research and
Technology Complex Eye Microsurgery ("IRTC"), 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 (ICLsTM). 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.

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) that will be utilized by the licensee as sales of the licensed products
are made. The Company recorded $232,000, $232,000 and $3,040,000 of royalty
income in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively, from these licenses.

During 1999 in connection with its acquisition of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Circuit Tree Medical, Inc. the Company acquired patents
related to the Wave(TM) phacoemulsification machine and other related
technologies.

NOTE 10--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common Stock

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.

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

NOTE 10--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Continued)

Common Stock (Continued)

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.

In 1999, the Company issued 270,772 shares as partial consideration for
business acquisitions. Also, during 1999, the Company repurchased and cancelled
51,477 shares.

Notes Receivable

As of December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999, notes receivable from officers
and directors totalling $6,859,163 and $5,254,162, 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 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 granted / reissued 453,000 $10.07
Options exercised (538,420) $ 6.13
-------------- -------------

Balance at December 31, 1999 1,460,165 $ 7.75
============== =============

Options exercisable (vested) at December 31, 1999 918,166 $ 6.53
============== =============
</TABLE>

Included in the table above are options to purchase 3,500 shares of common
stock outstanding at December 31, 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
122,500 shares were outstanding at December 31, 1999, with exercise prices
ranging between $2.50 to $9.25 per share.

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

NOTE 10--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Continued)

Options (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 152,000, 160,000 and 566,000 shares were outstanding at December 31,
1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, 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 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the 1998 Stock Option
Plan, authorizing the granting of incentive options and/or non-qualified options
to purchase or awards of the Company's common stock. Under the provisions of the
plan, 1,000,000 shares were reserved for issuance; however, the maximum number
of shares authorized may be increased provided such action is in compliance with
Article IV of the Plan. 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 the date of grant. Pursuant to the plan, options for
998,333 and 650,000 shares were outstanding at December 31, 1999 and January 1,
1999, respectively with exercise prices ranging between $6.25 and $10.63 per
share.

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 that
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 totaling $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.

In 1999, officers, employees and others exercised 538,420 options from the
1990, 1991, and non-qualified stock option plans at prices from $1.60 to $12.00
resulting in cash, notes and stock proceeds totaling $3,296,240.

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 1999; dividend yield of 0 percent; expected
volatility of 73 percent; risk free rate of 6.5 percent; and expected lives of 3
years; and 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.

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year ended
December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998 were $5.62, $1.84 to
$2.89 and $1.57, respectively.

Under the accounting provisions of FASB 123, the Company's net income and
earnings per share for 1999, 1998 and 1997 would have been reduced to the pro
forma amounts indicated below:

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

NOTE 10--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Continued)

Options (Continued)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
-------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income
As reported $ 2,154,000 $ 2,457,000 $ 7,419,000
Pro forma $ 1,584,000 $ 2,340,168 $ 6,771,200
Basic earnings per share
As reported $ .15 $ .18 $.57
Pro forma $ .11 $ .17 $.52
Diluted earnings per share
As reported $ .15 $ .17 $.53
Pro forma $ .11 $ .16 $.48
</TABLE>


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 1997
through 1999.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 31, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options
Outstanding
Weighted-
Number Average Weighted- Number Weighted-
Range of Outstanding Remaining Average Exercisable Average
Exercise Prices at 12/31/99 Contractual Life Exercise Price at 12/31/99 Exercise Price
- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------- ------------------ --------------- ------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$2.50 to $4.75 161,000 3.6 years $ 4.18 161,000 $ 4.18
$5.875 to $6.25 750,666 7.4 years $ 6.24 645,666 $ 6.24
$9.00 to $12.00 548,500 8.6 years $10.87 111,500 $11.64
- ----------------- ----------------- --------------------- ------------------ --------------- ------------------

$2.50 to $12.00 1,460,166 7.4 years $7.75 918,166 $ 6.53
================= ================== ===================== ================== ================ ==================
</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 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
Warrants exercised - -
------------- --------------

Balance at December 31, 1999 60,144 $3.94
============= ==============
</TABLE>

All warrants are exercisable as of December 31, 1999.

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

NOTE 11--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Obligations

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. During 1998, the lease obligations were fulfilled and in 1999,
the buyout provisions of the leases were exercised.

In December 1999, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement to
finance excimer lasers that were placed in the laser centers operated by Laser
and Implant Technology Centers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
The lease commitment of $1,700,000 will be paid over three years.

Annual future minimum lease payments under noncancellable
operating leases as of December 31, 1999 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Fiscal Year
- ----------
<S> <C>
2000 $1,785,802
2001 1,469,480
2002 1,282,700
2003 374,771
2004 152,454
----------
Thereafter 236,131
----------
Total $5,301,338
==========



</TABLE>

Rent expense was approximately $1,125,000, $1,147,000 and $686,000 for the
years ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998,
respectively.

Supply Agreement

During 1999, the Company entered into a license and supply agreement with
another manufacturer for one of its products. This agreement commits the
Company to purchases of $3,172,000 over the next 18 months and gives the Company
the right to license and re-sell the product.

Litigation and Claims

The Company is party to various claims and legal proceedings arising out of
the normal course of its business. These claims and legal proceedings relate to
contractual rights and obligations, employment matters, and claims of product
liability. While there can be no assurance that an adverse determination of any
such matters could not have a material adverse impact in any future period,
management does not believe, based upon information known to it, that the final
resolution of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect upon the
Company's consolidated financial position and annual results of operations and
cash flows.

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

NOTE 12--OTHER LIABILITIES

Other Current Liabilities

Included in other current liabilities at December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999
are approximately $1,283,000 and $1,274,000 of commissions due to outside sales
representatives; income tax payable of $360,000 and $500,000; and deferred
revenue of $232,000 and $232,000, respectively.

Other Long-Term Liabilities

Included in other long-term liabilities at December 31, 1999 and January 1,
1999 is deferred revenue of approximately $0 and $232,000 and a pension
obligation related to an officer of a foreign subsidiary of approximately
$246,000 and $260,000, respectively.

NOTE 13--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

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

During 1999, 1998 and 1997, a law firm, of which a partner is director and
stockholder of the Company, received approximately $247,000, $525,000 and
$280,000 for fees in connection with legal services performed on behalf of the
Company. As of December 31, 1999 and January 1, 1999, included in prepaid,
deposits, and other current assets are $230,000 and $250,000 of prepaid legal
fees.

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 $337,000, $400,000 and $420,000 during 1999,
1998 and 1997, respectively. During the year the Company paid $1,250,000 in
consideration for cancellation of the agreement. The amount is included in
Other Assets and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over five years.


NOTE 14--STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities includes interest paid of
approximately $1,046,000, $740,000 and $723,000 for the years ended December 31,
1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, respectively. Income taxes paid
amounted to approximately $1,312,000, $1,450,000 and $315,000 for the years
ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January 2, 1998, respectively.

Changes in operating working capital as shown in the consolidated statements
of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January
2, 1998 are comprised of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Decrease (increase) in:
Accounts receivable $ 740,636 $ (672,715) $ (1,156,149)
Other receivables (721,769) 1,863,170 (3,250,000)
Inventories (2,178,152) (2,086,968) (2,346,531)
Prepaids and deposits (603,385) (714,454) (673,300)
Other current assets (1,214,016) -- --
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable 2,473,492 (713,574) (76,590)
Other current liabilities 1,045,451 (1,736,673) 548,068
--------------- --------------- --------------
Change in operating working capital $ (457,743) $ (4,061,214) $ (6,954,502)
=============== ============== ==============
</TABLE>

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

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
--------------- -------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Non cash financing activities:
Notes receivable (Note 10) $ 1,605,001 $ 2,928,147 $ -
Acquisition of business:

Assets acquired $ 4,403,000 $ 4,027,000 $ 93,000
Goodwill 3,137,000 4,247,000 1,038,000
Liabilities assumed (1,763,000) (3,736,000) (58,000)
Common stock issued (2,500,000) - -
Cash paid (2,197,000) (163,000) -
--------------- -------------- ---------------
Debt incurred $ (1,080,000) $ (4,375,000) $ (1,073,000)
=============== ============== ===============
</TABLE>

F-22
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

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>
1999 1998 1997
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 14,156,708 13,541,644 13,123,950
Diluted effect of stock options and warrants 598,898 726,385 989,133
--------------- --------------- --------------

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 14,755,606 14,268,029 14,113,083
=============== ================ ==============
</TABLE>

NOTE 16--GEOGRAPHIC AND PRODUCT DATA

The Company develops, manufactures and distributes medical devices used in
minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. Substantially all of the Company's
revenues result from the sale of the Company's 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, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Norway.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sales to unaffiliated customers, allocated on the
basis of manufacturer or foreign distributor origination

U.S. $ 30,868,000 $ 24,658,000 $ 27,843,000
Switzerland 3,787,000 3,970,000 5,397,000
Foreign distributors 24,300,000 25,616,000 9,240,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total sales to unaffiliated customers $ 58,955,000 $ 54,244,000 $ 42,480,000
=============== =============== ==============

Sales to affiliated customers

U.S. $ 4,147,000 $ 3,670,000 $ 2,936,000
Switzerland 7,335,000 3,232,000 2,766,000
Foreign distributors - - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total sales to affiliated customers $ 11,482,000 $ 6,902,000 $ 5,702,000
=============== =============== ==============

Depreciation and amortization

U.S. $ 3,190,000 $ 3,201,000 $ 2,920,000
Switzerland 832,000 667,000 319,000
Foreign distributors 205,000 471,000 286,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total depreciation and amortization $ 4,227,000 $ 4,339,000 $ 3,525,000
=============== =============== ==============
</TABLE>

F-23
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 16--GEOGRAPHIC AND PRODUCT DATA (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating income

U.S. $ (789,000) 1,714,000 $ 10,621,000
Switzerland 4,052,000 2,800,000 1,519,000
Foreign distributors 853,000 3,047,000 129,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total operating income $ 4,116,000 $ 7,561,000 $ 12,269,000
=============== =============== ==============


Profit and loss

Total operating income (as reported above) $ 4,116,000 $ 7,561,000 $ 12,269,000
Equity in earnings of joint venture 586,000 438,000 336,000
Interest expense--net (683,000) (560,000) (596,000)
Other expense, net (585,000) (640,000) (320,000)
Minority interest (419,000) (662,000) -
Income taxes (861,000) (1,999,000) (4,270,000)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method,
write-off of start-up costs, net of income taxes - (1,681,000) -
--------------- --------------- -------------
Net income $ 2,154,000 $ 2,457,000 $ 7,419,000
=============== =============== ==============



<CAPTION> 1999 1998 1997
--------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Identifiable assets

U.S. $ 70,199,000 $ 60,829,000 $ 49,653,000
Switzerland 4,474,000 2,498,000 7,860,000
Foreign distributors 2,856,000 9,963,000 4,878,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total identifiable assets $ 77,529,000 $ 73,290,000 $ 62,391,000
=============== =============== ==============

Capital expenditures

U.S. $ 2,993,000 $ 1,604,000 $ 1,978,000
Switzerland 785,000 126,000 792,000
Foreign distributors 154,000 290,000 76,000
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total capital expenditures $ 3,932,000 $ 2,020,000 $ 2,846,000
=============== =============== ==============

Non-cash items

U.S. $ 2,500,000 $ 150,000 $ 409,000
Switzerland - - -
Foreign distributors - - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
Total non-cash items $ 2,500,000 $ 150,000 $ 409,000
=============== =============== ==============


Investment in joint venture

U.S. $ 3,577,000 $ 3,178,000 $ 2,740,000
=============== ================ ==============
</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.

F-24
STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)

NOTE 16--GEOGRAPHIC AND PRODUCT DATA (Continued)

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1999, January 1, 1999 and January
2, 1998, the Company had foreign sales from U.S., primarily to South America
and Southeast Asia, of approximately $2,508,000, $1,223,000 and $2,935,000,
respectively.

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-25
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 27, 1999, included the
related financial statement schedule as of December 31, 1999, and for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 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 27, 1999, relating to the consolidated balance
sheets of STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and
January 1, 1999 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 December 31, 1999, which report appears in
the December 31, 1999 annual report on Form 10-K of STAAR Surgical Company and
subsidiaries.



BDO Seidman, LLP


Los Angeles, California
March 27, 2000

F-26
STAAR 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>
1999
Allowance for doubtful accounts deducted from
accounts receivable in balance sheet $ 233,000 $ 143,000 $ - $ 376,000
Reserve for obsolescence deducted from inventories
in balance sheet 61,000 124,000 - 185,000
------------- ------------ ------------- --------------

$ 294,000 $ 267,000 $ - $ 561,000
============= ============ ============= ==============

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(1) 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
============= ============ ============= ==============
</TABLE>

___________
(1) Obsolete inventory written down to zero value.

F-27