STAAR Surgical (STAA) 10-K 12 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	3-Jan-14	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Trading Symbol	'STAA	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	37,966,937	'
Entity Registrant Name	'STAAR SURGICAL CO	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000718937	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--01-03	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$260,175,508

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$22,954	$21,675
Accounts receivable trade, net	10,731	8,543
Inventories, net	12,514	11,673
Prepaids, deposits and other current assets	3,503	2,183
Deferred income taxes	373	0
Total current assets	50,075	44,074
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,405	5,439
Intangible assets, net	1,380	2,142
Goodwill	1,786	1,786
Deferred income taxes	626	187
Other assets	659	1,131
Total assets	61,931	54,759
Current liabilities:	'	'
Line of credit	4,750	5,850
Accounts payable	6,263	5,129
Deferred income taxes	739	439
Obligations under capital leases	288	829
Other current liabilities	6,372	5,702
Total current liabilities	18,412	17,949
Obligations under capital leases	141	488
Deferred income taxes	1,654	885
Asset retirement obligations	157	707
Pension liability	2,715	2,988
Total liabilities	23,079	23,017
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)	'	'
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 60,000 shares authorized: 37,911 and 36,423 shares issued and outstanding at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively	379	364
Additional paid-in capital	170,246	162,251
Accumulated other comprehensive income	282	1,580
Accumulated deficit	-132,055	-132,453
Total stockholders’ equity	38,852	31,742
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$61,931	$54,759

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Parenthetical] (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000	60,000
Common stock, shares issued	37,911	36,423
Common stock, shares outstanding	37,911	36,423

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Net sales	$72,215	$63,783	$62,765
Cost of sales	21,906	19,492	20,396
Gross profit	50,309	44,291	42,369
Selling, general and administrative expenses:	'	'	'
General and administrative	16,568	15,150	14,932
Marketing and selling	23,888	21,281	17,726
Research and development	6,708	6,444	5,868
Medical device excise tax	203	0	0
Other general and administrative expenses	2,242	2,636	1,060
Operating income (loss)	700	-1,220	2,783
Other income (expense):	'	'	'
Interest income	59	59	32
Interest expense	-170	-291	-523
Gain on foreign currency transactions	39	111	86
Other income, net	486	822	326
Other income (expense), net	414	701	-79
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	1,114	-519	2,704
Provision for income taxes	716	1,244	1,356
Net income (loss)	$398	($1,763)	$1,348
Net income (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04
Net income (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	36,706	36,253	35,434
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	38,607	36,253	36,878

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Net income (loss)	$398	($1,763)	$1,348
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	-1,327	-689	211
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax	29	-136	94
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,298	-825	305
Comprehensive income (loss)	($900)	($2,588)	$1,653

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
In Thousands
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$22,427	$351	$152,014	$2,100	($132,038)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	'	35,084	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	1,348	0	0	0	1,348
Other comprehensive income (loss)	305	0	0	305	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options	3,343	9	3,334	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options (in shares)	'	851	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	2,035	0	2,035	0	0
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	'	0	'	'	'
Vested restricted stock	0	1	-1	0	0
Vested restricted stock (in shares)	'	106	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 30, 2011	29,458	361	157,382	2,405	-130,690
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2011	'	36,041	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-1,763	0	0	0	-1,763
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-825	0	0	-825	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options	1,514	3	1,511	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options (in shares)	'	324	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	3,358	0	3,358	0	0
Stock-based compensation (in shares)	'	0	'	'	'
Vested restricted stock	0	0	0	0	0
Vested restricted stock (in shares)	'	58	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 28, 2012	31,742	364	162,251	1,580	-132,453
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2012	'	36,423	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	398	0	0	'	398
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,298	0	0	-1,298	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options	3,286	7	3,279	0	0
Common stock issued upon exercise of options (in shares)	645	645	'	'	'
Common stock issued upon cashless exercise of warrants	0	5	-5	'	'
Common stock issued upon cashless exercise of warrants (in shares)	'	485	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	4,721	0	4,721	'	'
Unvested restricted stock	3	3	0	'	'
Unvested restricted stock (in shares)	'	341	'	'	'
Vested restricted stock	0	0	0	0	0
Vested restricted stock (in shares)	'	17	'	'	'
Balance at Jan. 03, 2014	$38,852	$379	$170,246	$282	($132,055)
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 03, 2014	'	37,911	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$398	($1,763)	$1,348
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation of property and equipment	1,711	1,309	1,469
Amortization of intangibles	440	652	797
Deferred income taxes	104	143	367
Fair value adjustment of warrant	-27	-335	117
Change in net pension liability	162	205	257
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	200	131	13
Stock-based compensation expense	4,489	3,208	1,914
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	10	16	0
Provision for sales return and bad debt	263	77	-320
Changes in working capital:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable trade, net	-2,938	224	-435
Inventories	-1,603	-1,020	-85
Prepaids, deposits and other current assets	-1,063	-298	-145
Accounts payable	367	1,014	480
Other current liabilities	842	-346	-431
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,355	3,217	5,346
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'	'
Acquisition of property and equipment	-3,448	-2,271	-962
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	0	0	26
Net change in other noncurrent assets	0	-4	47
Decrease in restricted cash, including reinvested interest	0	129	0
Net cash used in investing activities	-3,448	-2,146	-889
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'	'
Borrowings under lines of credit	0	3,510	0
Repayment of capital lease lines of credit	-841	-741	-575
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,286	1,514	3,343
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,445	4,283	2,768
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-1,073	-261	-19
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,279	5,093	7,206
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of year	21,675	16,582	9,376
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of year	$22,954	$21,675	$16,582

Organization_and_Description_o

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	Note 1 — Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies
	Organization and Description of Business
	STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1982 for the purpose of developing, producing, and marketing intraocular lenses (“IOLs”) and other products for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. Principal products are IOLs and implantable Collamer lenses (“ICLs”).  IOLs are prosthetic intraocular lenses used to restore vision that has been adversely affected by cataracts, and include the Company’s lines of silicone and Collamer IOLs and the Preloaded Injector (a silicone or acrylic IOL preloaded into a single-use disposable injector).  ICLs, consisting of the Company’s ICL and Toric implantable collamer lenses (“TICL”), are intraocular lenses used to correct refractive conditions such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism.
	As of January 3, 2014, the Company’s significant subsidiaries consisted of:
		·	STAAR Surgical AG, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Switzerland to develop, manufacture and distribute certain of the Company’s products worldwide including ICLs.
		·	STAAR Japan, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets and distributes Preloaded IOLs and ICLs.
	The Company operates as one operating segment, the ophthalmic surgical market, for financial reporting purposes (see Note 16).
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of STAAR Surgical and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
	Fiscal Year and Interim Reporting Periods
	The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Friday nearest December 31 and each of the Company’s quarterly reporting periods generally consists of 13 weeks.  Fiscal year 2013 is based on a 53-week period, while fiscal years 2012 and 2011 are based on a 52-week period.
	Foreign Currency
	The functional currency of the Company and its Japanese subsidiary is the local currency. The functional currency of the Company’s Swiss subsidiary, STAAR Surgical AG, is the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at rates of exchange in effect at the close of the period. Sales and expenses are translated at the weighted average of exchange rates in effect during the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are deferred and are shown as a separate component in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).  During 2013 and 2012, the net foreign translation losses were $1,327,000 and $689,000, respectively, and in 2011 a net foreign translation gain of $211,000. Net foreign currency transaction gains, included in the consolidated statements of operations under other income (expense) were, $39,000, $111,000, and $86,000, respectively.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when realized or realizable and earned, which is when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred; the sale price is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.  The Company records revenue from non-consignment product sales when title and risk of ownership has been transferred, which is typically at shipping point, except for the STAAR Japan subsidiary, which is typically recognized when the product is received by the customer.  STAAR Japan does not have significant deferred revenues as of January 3, 2014 as delivery to the customer is generally made within the same or the next day of shipment. The Company presents sales tax it collects from its customers on a net basis (excluded from revenues).
	The Company’s products are marketed to ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers or vision centers, and distributors. IOLs may be offered to surgeons and hospitals on a consignment basis.  The Company maintains title and risk of loss of consigned inventory and recognizes revenue for consignment inventory when the Company is notified that the IOL has been implanted.
	ICLs are sold only to certified surgeons who have completed requisite training or for use in scheduled training surgeries. As a result, STAAR partially mitigates the risk that the revenue it recognizes on shipment of ICLs would need to be reversed because of a surgeon’s failure to qualify for its use.
	The Company sells certain injector parts to an unrelated customer and supplier (collectively referred to as “supplier”) whereby these injector part sales are either made as a final sale to the supplier or, are sold to be reprocessed by the supplier into finished goods inventory (a preloaded acrylic IOL). These finished goods are then sold back to the Company at an agreed upon, contractual price. The Company makes a profit margin on either type of sale with the supplier and each type of sale is made under separate purchase and sales orders between the two parties resulting in cash settlement for the orders sold or repurchased. For parts that are sold as a final sale, the Company recognizes a sale consistent with its routine revenue recognition policies as disclosed in Note 1 and those sales are included as part of other sales in total net sales. For the injector parts that are sold to be reprocessed into finished goods, the Company does not recognize revenue on these sales in accordance with ASC 845-10, Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty. Instead, the Company records the transaction at its carrying value, deferring any profit margin in inventory, until the finished good inventory is sold to an end-customer (not the supplier) at which point the Company records the sale and the related cost of sale, including the release of the deferred cost of sale in inventory, related to these finished goods.
	For all sales, the Company is considered the principal in the transaction as the Company, among other factors, is  the primary obligor in the arrangement, bears general inventory risk, credit risk, has latitude in establishing the sales price, is responsible for authorized and general sales returns risk and therefore, sales and cost of sales are reported separately in the statement of operations instead of a single, net amount.  Cost of sales includes cost of production, freight and distribution, royalties, and inventory provisions, net of any purchase discounts.
	The Company generally permits returns of product if the product is returned within the time allowed by its return policies and records an allowance for estimated returns at the time revenue is recognized. The Company’s allowance for estimated returns considers historical trends and experience, the impact of new product launches, the entry of a competitor, availability of timely and pertinent information and the various terms and arrangements offered, including sales with extended credit terms.  Sales are reported net of estimated returns.
	The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based on customer payment history and credit worthiness, as determined by the Company’s review of its customers’ current credit information.  The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses and uncollectible accounts based upon its historical experience and any specific customer collection issues that have been identified.  Amounts determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.
	Use of Estimates
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, as such, include amounts based on significant estimates and judgments of management with consideration given to materiality. significant estimates used include determining valuation allowances for uncollectible trade receivables, sales returns reserves, obsolete and excess inventory, deferred income taxes, and tax reserves, including valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, pension liabilities, evaluation of asset impairment, in determining the useful life of depreciable and definite-lived intangible assets, and in the variables and assumptions used to calculate and record stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks which from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the institutions and believes that the risk of any loss is minimal.
	Concentration of Credit Risk and Revenues
	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk principally consist of trade receivables. This risk is limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their geographic dispersion. As of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, there were no customers with trade receivables balances that represented 10% or more of consolidated trade receivables. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are performed and, generally, no collateral is required. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses, in the aggregate, have not exceeded management’s expectations.
	A single customer has accounted for 11%, 11%, and 13% of the Company’s consolidated net sales in each of the last three fiscal years, respectively.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
		⋅	Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
		⋅	Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.
		⋅	Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable; that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would make and significant to the fair value.
	The carrying values reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, prepaids and other current assets, accounts payable, other current liabilities and line of credit approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.
	Inventories, Net
	Inventories, net are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. Inventories include the costs of raw material, labor, and manufacturing overhead, work in process and finished goods. The Company provides estimated inventory allowances for excess, expiring, slow moving and obsolete inventory as well as inventory whose carrying value is in excess of net realizable value to properly reflect inventory at the lower of cost or market.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation on property, plant, and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as noted below. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the related lease term. Major improvements are capitalized and minor replacements, maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
	Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:
	Machinery and equipment		5-10 years
	Furniture and equipment		3-7 years
	Computer and peripherals		2-5 years
	Leasehold improvements		(a)
	(a)	Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the associated leases.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill, which has an indefinite life, is not amortized but instead is tested for impairment on an annual basis or between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level. Reporting units can be one level below the operating segment level, and can be combined when reporting units within the same operating segment have similar economic characteristics. The Company has determined that its reporting units have similar economic characteristics, and therefore, can be combined into one reporting unit for the purposes of goodwill impairment testing. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company performed its annual impairment test and determined that its goodwill was not impaired.  As of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, the carrying value of goodwill was $1.8 million.
	Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews property and equipment and intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying value of such assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows the assets are expected to generate. When the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than their carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference between the assets’ fair value and their carrying value. A review of long lived assets was conducted as of January 3, 2014 and no impairment was identified.
	Amortization is computed on the straight-line basis, which is the Company’s best estimate of the pattern of economic benefits over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from 3 to 20 years for patents, certain acquired rights and licenses, 10 years for customer relationships, and 3 to 10 years for developed technology.
	Research and Development Costs
	Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement are charged to expense as incurred.
	Advertising Cost
	Advertising costs, which are included in marketing and selling expenses, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $2,100,000, $1,810,000, and $1,306,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Income Taxes
	The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, net operating loss and credit carryforwards, and uncertainty in income taxes, on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Valuation allowances, or reductions to deferred tax assets, are recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset may not be realized or realizable in the jurisdiction in which they arise. The impact on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates and laws, if any, are applied to the years during which temporary differences are expected to be settled and reflected in the financial statements in the period of enactment.
	The Company recognizes the income tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that, based on technical merits, the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes.  The amount of tax benefit recorded, if any, is limited to the amount that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority (that has full knowledge of all relevant information). Accrued interest, if any, related to uncertain tax positions is included as a component of income tax expense, and penalties, if incurred, are recognized as a component of operating income or loss.  The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions as of any of the periods presented.  The Company did not incur significant interest and penalties for any period presented.
	Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
	The Company has only one class of common stock and no participating securities which would require the two-class method of calculating basic earnings per share.  Basic per share information is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, net of unvested restricted stock, during the period.  Diluted per share information is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, adjusted for the effects of potentially dilutive common stock, which are comprised of outstanding warrants, stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units, during the period, using the treasury-stock method.
	Employee Defined Benefit Plans
	The Company maintains a passive pension plan (the “Swiss Plan”) covering employees of its Swiss subsidiary.  The Swiss Plan conforms to the features of a defined benefit plan.
	The Company also maintains a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers substantially all of the employees of STAAR Japan.
	The Company recognizes the funded status, or difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations of the pension plan on the statement of financial position, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income. If the projected benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets, then that difference or unfunded status represents the pension liability. The Company records a net periodic pension cost in the consolidated statement of operations. The liabilities and annual income or expense of both plans are determined using methodologies that involve several actuarial assumptions, the most significant of which are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of asset return (asset returns and fair-value of plan assets are applicable for the Swiss Plan only). The fair values of plan assets are determined based on prevailing market prices (see Note 10).
	Stock Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards granted is based on the grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term of three to four years (see Note 11).
The Company also issues restricted stock to its executive officers and Board of Directors (the Board), which are restricted and unvested common shares issued at fair market value on the date of grant. For the restricted shares issued to the Board, the restricted stock vests over a one-year service period and are subject to forfeiture (or acceleration, depending upon the circumstances) until vested or the service period is completed.  The Company has also issued performance accelerated restricted stock (PARS) to its executive officers which carry a three year service condition and a performance condition such that if the Company meets or exceeds certain predetermined performance metrics set by the Directors, up to one third of the grant vesting may be accelerated annually.  If the performance metrics are not achieved, the restricted stock vests after three years.  Restricted stock compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of one to three years for the Board and PARS grants, respectively, based on the grant-date fair value of the stock.  Restricted stock is considered legally issued and outstanding on the grant date (see Notes 11 and 15).
The Company issues restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the 2013 RSU Plan (see Note 11), which is a performance contingent restricted stock award based upon the Company exceeding an internally established annual revenue target which is above the established annual revenue plan.  The RSUs contain both a performance and a service condition such that they vest after calculating the total financial performance for fiscal year 2013, at which time, if the internally established revenue target is met or exceeded and the grantee is still employed with the Company on the measurement date, which is one year after the grant date, the RSUs will become fully vested.  The Company recognizes compensation cost for the RSUs if and when the Company concludes that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, net of an estimate of pre-vesting forfeitures, over the requisite service period based on the grant-date fair value of the stock.  The Company reassesses the probability of vesting at each reporting period and adjusts compensation cost based on its probability assessment.
Once the RSUs are vested, equivalent common shares will be issued or issuable to the grantee and therefore the RSUs are not included in total common shares issued and outstanding until vested (see Notes 11 and 15).
The Company accounts for options granted to persons other than employees and directors under Equity –Based Payments to Non-Employees. The fair value of such options is re-measured each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and income or expense is recognized over the vesting period for changes to the fair value for the unvested options.  As the options vest, no such re-measurement is necessary or performed.
Accounting for Warrants
The Company has issued certain warrants under an agreement that expressly provides that if the Company fails to satisfy continuous registration requirements the Company will be obligated only to issue additional common stock as the holder’s sole remedy, with no possibility of settlement in cash. The Company accounts for these warrants as equity because additional shares are the only form of settlement available to the holder. These warrants are only valued on the issuance date and not subsequently revalued. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the valuation model to estimate the fair value of all warrants.  See Note 11.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The Company presents comprehensive income (loss) in two separate but not consecutive consolidated financial statements, the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Total comprehensive income (loss) includes, in addition to net income (loss), changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of AOCI attributable to the Company for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012 and December 30, 2011 (in thousands):
		Foreign		Defined		Defined		Accumulated
		Currency		Benefit		Benefit		Other
		Translation		Pension Plan-		Pension Plan-		Comprehensive
				Japan		Switzerland		Income
Balance, December 31, 2010		$	2,584	$	642	$	-1,126	$	2,100
Other comprehensive income (loss)			211		-219		403		395
Tax effect			-		-		-90		-90
Balance, December 30, 2011			2,795		423		-813		2,405
Other comprehensive loss			-689		-127		-11		-827
Tax effect			-		-		2		2
Balance, December 28, 2012			2,106		296		-822		1,580
Other comprehensive income (loss)			-861		-126		280		-707
Tax effect			-466		-63		-62		-591
Balance, January 3, 2014		$	779	$	107	$	-604	$	282
Prior Year Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior financial statement information to conform to current presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (Topic 740)” (ASU 2013-11), which states that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward.  To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date.  ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company plans to adopt this guidance during its quarter ending March 28, 2014 and is assessing the impact, if any, to the consolidated financial statements.
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or an investment in a Foreign Entity (Topic 830)” (ASU 2013-05), which provides guidance on releasing cumulative translation adjustments when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity.  In addition, these amendments provide guidance on the release of cumulative translation adjustments in partial sales of equity method investments and in step acquisitions.  This new guidance is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date.  Prior periods should not be adjusted and early adoption is permitted.  The Company plans to adopt this guidance during its quarter ending April 4, 2014 and does not expect the adoption to have any significant impact to its consolidated financial statements.

Accounts_Receivable_Trade_Net

Accounts Receivable Trade, Net	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Accounts Receivable Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 2 — Accounts Receivable Trade, Net
	Accounts receivable trade, net consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Domestic	$	2,135	$	1,222
	Foreign		10,045		8,637
			12,180		9,859
	Less allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns		1,449		1,316
		$	10,731	$	8,543

Inventories_Net

Inventories, Net	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 3 — Inventories, Net
	Inventories, net consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Raw materials and purchased parts	$	1,367	$	1,946
	Work in process		913		1,318
	Finished goods		11,029		8,945
			13,309		12,209
	Less inventory reserves		795		536
		$	12,514	$	11,673

Prepaids_Deposits_and_Other_Cu

Prepaids, Deposits, and Other Current Assets	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Prepaid Expenses Deposits and Other Current Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Prepaid Expenses Deposits and Other Current Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 4 — Prepaids, Deposits, and Other Current Assets
	Prepaids, deposits, and other current assets consisted of the following January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Prepaids and deposits	$	2,157	$	1,672
	Value added tax (VAT) receivable		618		307
	Deferred charge for foreign profits		362		—
	Other current assets		366		204
		$	3,503	$	2,183

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 5 — Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Machinery and equipment	$	16,225	$	14,734
	Furniture and fixtures		4,837		3,483
	Leasehold improvements		6,552		5,281
			27,614		23,498
	Less accumulated depreciation		20,209		18,059
		$	7,405	$	5,439
	Depreciation expense for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, was approximately $1.7 million, $1.3 million, and $1.5 million,  respectively.

Intangible_Assets_Net

Intangible Assets, Net	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 6 – Intangible Assets, Net
	Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):
		January 3, 2014						December 28, 2012
		Gross		Accumulated		Net		Gross		Accumulated		Net
		Carrying		Amortization				Carrying		Amortization
		Amount						Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Patents and licenses	$	10,637	$	-10,057	$	580	$	10,786	$	-9,875	$	911
	Customer relationships		1,490		-894		596		1,835		-917		918
	Developed technology		947		-743		204		1,166		-853		313
	Total	$	13,074	$	-11,694	$	1,380	$	13,787	$	-11,645	$	2,142
	Aggregate amortization expense for amortized intangible assets was $440,000, $652,000, and $797,000, for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, respectively.
	The following table shows estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the next five succeeding years and thereafter (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year	Amount
	2014	$	374
	2015		241
	2016		239
	2017		235
	2018		36
	Thereafter		255
	Total	$	1,380

Other_Current_Liabilities

Other Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 7 — Other Current Liabilities
	Other current liabilities consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Accrued salaries and wages	$	1,630	$	1,950
	Accrued bonuses		935		500
	Accrued severance		731		499
	Accrued insurance		551		515
	Accrued commissions		528		107
	Accrued income taxes		485		451
	Accrued audit expenses		328		396
	Customer credit balances		153		324
	Other(1)		1,031		960
		$	6,372	$	5,702
	(1)No item in “Other” above exceeds 5% of total other current liabilities.

Liabilities

Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Liabilities [Text Block]	'
	Note 8 —Liabilities
	Lines of Credit
	The Company’s wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, STAAR Japan, has an agreement, as amended on December 28, 2012, with Mizuho Bank which provides for borrowings of up to 500,000,000 Yen, at an interest rate equal to the Tokyo short-term prime interest rate (approximately 1.475% as of January 3, 2014) and may be renewed annually (the current line expires on April 4, 2014).  The credit facility is not collateralized.  The Company had 500,000,000 Yen outstanding on the line of credit as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, (approximately $4.8 million and $5.8 million based on the foreign exchange rates on January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively) which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity and market interest rates of the line of credit.  In case of default, the interest rate will be increased to 14% per annum. As of January 3, 2014, there were no available borrowings under the line.
	In August 2010, the Company’s wholly-owned Swiss subsidiary, STAAR Surgical AG, entered into a credit agreement with Credit Suisse (the “Bank”). The credit agreement provides for borrowing of up to 1,000,000 CHF (Swiss Francs) ($1.1 million at the rate of exchange on January 3, 2014), to be used for working capital purposes. Accrued interest and 0.25% commissions on average outstanding borrowings is payable quarterly and the interest rate will be determined by the Bank based on the then prevailing market conditions at the time of borrowing. The credit agreement is automatically renewed on an annual basis based on the same terms assuming there is no default. The credit agreement may be terminated by either party at any time in accordance with its general terms and conditions. The credit facility is not collateralized and contains certain conditions such as providing the Bank with audited financial statements annually and notice of significant events or conditions, as defined in the credit agreement. The Bank may also declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable upon a change of control or a material qualification, as defined in the agreement, in STAAR Surgical independent auditors’ report. There were no borrowings outstanding as of January 3, 2014 and the full amount of the line was available for borrowing.
	Covenant Compliance
	The Company is in compliance with covenants of its credit facilities and lines of credit as of January 3, 2014.
	Asset Retirement Obligation
	The Company recorded certain Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”), in accordance with ASC 410-20 in connection with the Company’s leased facilities in Japan that specifically relate to leasehold improvements made to the facility.  This liability arises from the Company’s obligation to return the facility to its “original condition”, as defined in the lease agreements.  The Company has recognized the fair value of the ARO liability obligation included in noncurrent liabilities.  During 2012, in connection with the Company’s decision to consolidate its manufacturing operations to the U.S. and close its Japanese manufacturing facility, which was completed in 2013, the Company obtained more current estimates of the costs to return the facility to its original condition as shown in the table below. The remaining ARO is for the existing offices under the current lease agreement expected to be settled upon expiration of the lease agreement in 2018.
	The following table describes all changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability (in thousands):
		January 3,		December 28,
		2014		2012
	Asset retirement obligation at beginning of the year	$	707	$	577
	Increase (decrease) in estimated liabilities		-221		169
	Liabilities settled		-206		—
	Accretion expense		10		15
	Impact of changes in the Japanese Yen		-133		-54
	Asset retirement obligation at end of the year	$	157	$	707

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 9 — Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Current tax provision:
	U.S. federal (benefit)	$	-121		$	—		$	—
	State		12			11			13
	Foreign		721			1,125			1,012
	Total current provision		612			1,136			1,025
	Deferred tax provision:
	U.S. federal and state		—			—			—
	Foreign provision		104			108			331
	Total deferred provision		104			108			331
	Provision for income taxes	$	716		$	1,244		$	1,356
	As of January 3, 2014, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $121.7 million available to reduce future income taxes. The federal net operating loss carryforwards expire in varying amounts between 2017 and 2032.   In California, the main state from which the Company conducts its domestic operations, the Company has state net operating losses of $70.5 million available to reduce future California income taxes. The California net operating loss carryfowards expire in varying amounts between 2014 and 2033 and, approximately $14.6 million of those net operating loss carryforwards, will expire over the next three years
	The Company had accrued income taxes payable of $655,000 and $1,034,000 at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively, primarily due to taxes from foreign jurisdictions.
	The provision for income before taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes as follows (in thousands):
		2013							2012					2011
	Computed provision for taxes based on income		34	%		$	379			34	%	$	-176		34	%	$	919
	at statutory rate
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	Permanent differences		3.2				35			-7.9			41		1.4			37
	State minimum taxes, net of federal income		0.7				8			-1.4			8		0.3			9
	tax benefit
	Stock options		—				—			-56			290		—			—
	State tax benefit		6.4				71			9.2			-48		-4.3			-116
	Tax rate difference due to foreign statutory rate		43.7				487			-43.8			227		-19.7			-529
	Foreign tax detriment (benefit)		—				—			3.1			-16		11.6			312
	Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested		-7.7				-86			-223.4			1,158		29.1			788
	Foreign dividend withholding		12.5				140			-22.1			114		5.5			147
	Expiration of charitable contribution carryover		0.2				2			-16.1			83		—			—
	Reserve		-10.9				-121			—			—		—			—
	Other		6.4				71			1.1			-6		1.4			37
	Valuation allowance		-24.2				-270			83.2			-431		-9.2			-248
	Effective tax provision rate		64.3	%		$	716			-240.1	%	$	1,244		50.1	%	$	1,356
	Included in the state tax provision for 2013 is a decrease to the state deferred tax asset and corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance of $71,000. For 2012 and 2011, included in the state tax provision is an increase to the state deferred tax asset and corresponding increase to the valuation allowance of $48,000 and $116,000, respectively.
	Included in the deferred foreign tax provision for 2013 is decrease to the foreign deferred tax asset of $630,000 and corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance of $1,008,000. For 2012, there was an increase to the foreign deferred tax asset of $16,000 and corresponding increase to the valuation allowance. For 2011, there was an decrease to the foreign deferred tax asset and corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance of $312,000, respectively.
	All earnings from the Company’s subsidiaries are not considered to be permanently reinvested.  Accordingly, the Company provides withholding and U.S. taxes on all unremitted foreign earnings.  During 2013 and 2012 there were no withholding taxes paid to foreign jurisdictions and there were no earnings repatriated from foreign subsidiaries.
	Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	21		$	89
	Inventories		11			190
	Accrued vacation		375			534
	State taxes		—			3
	Accrued other expenses		105			187
	Other		-137			-111
	Valuation allowance		-741			-1,331
	Total current deferred tax liabilities	$	-366		$	-439
	Non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
	Net operating loss carryforwards		50,409			51,533
	Stock-based compensation		2,212			1,602
	Business, foreign and AMT credit carryforwards		921			844
	Capitalized R&D		525			605
	Contributions		57			58
	Pensions		731			877
	Depreciation and amortization		360			202
	Foreign tax withholding		-1,129			-885
	Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested		-4,992			-5,783
	Other		-40			11
	Valuation allowance		-50,082			-49,762
	Total non-current deferred tax liabilities	$	-1,028		$	-698
	As of January 3, 2014, the Company had net deferred tax liabilities in Switzerland of $1,683,000 (which included $1,129,000 of withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings) and net deferred tax assets of $289,000 in Japan included in the Company’s components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities table.  As of December 28, 2012, the Company had net deferred tax liabilities in Switzerland of $1,137,000 (which included $885,000 of withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings) included in the Company’s components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities table.
	Valuation allowance
ASC 740 requires that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset may not be realizable.
The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover the deferred tax assets within a jurisdiction from which they arise, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies and results of recent operations. In projecting future taxable income, the Company begins with historical results and incorporates assumptions including overall current and projected business and industry conditions, the amount of future federal, state, and foreign pretax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences and the successful implementation of feasible and prudent tax-planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates the Company uses to manage the underlying businesses. In evaluating the objective evidence that historical results provide, the Company considers three years of cumulative operating results. Valuation allowances, or reductions to deferred tax assets, are recognized if, based on the weight of all the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset may not be realized.
U.S.Jurisdiction
Due to the Company’s history of losses in the U.S., the valuation allowance fully offsets the value of U.S. deferred tax assets on the Company’s balance sheet as of January 3, 2014. Further, under Federal Tax Law Internal Revenue Code Section 382, significant changes in ownership may restrict the future utilization of these tax loss carry forwards.
Foreign Jurisdictions
STAAR Japan, Inc.
STAAR Surgical Company acquired its remaining ownership interest in STAAR Japan in 2008. Based on management's assessment of all available evidence at the time, including STAAR Japan’s history of cumulative losses, the Company concluded it was more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets would not be realized, and accordingly, a full valuation allowance was established. As of December 28, 2012, STAAR Japan’s valuation allowance was approximately $1.0 million.
During 2011 and 2012, the Company was engaged in a global restructuring strategy to consolidate global manufacturing into the U.S. to reduce costs, improve gross profit, enable use of significant net operating loss carryforwards in the U.S., and reduce income taxes in foreign jurisdictions. At the time, the Company manufactured its products in four facilities, two located in the U.S., and one of each located in Switzerland and Japan. Since that time, the Company has developed and begun implementing a plan to consolidate its manufacturing into a single site at its Monrovia, California location, to be substantially completed by the middle of 2014. During 2013, the Company completed the transfer of the manufacturing operations in Japan to the U.S.
An important change in connection with this global restructuring strategy was the conversion of STAAR Japan from a traditional principal manufacturer with unlimited manufacturing and inventory risk to a limited-risk distributor, or LRD. As an LRD, STAAR Japan does not bear manufacturing risk and has limited risk of maintaining inventory. This conversion was accomplished by contractually shifting these risks from STAAR Japan to STAAR AG, another wholly owned subsidiary of STAAR, as part of this global restructuring strategy.
STAAR Japan, although legally converted to an LRD at the end of 2012, continued to sell off its on-hand inventory from the end of 2012 through the first six months of 2013; consequently, it retained that inventory risk and functioned substantively as a principal entrepreneur during that period. Beginning in the third quarter of 2013, STAAR Japan began to operate as an LRD, both legally and economically, for STAAR AG. STAAR AG contractually assumed full principal manufacturing responsibility for its LRD (STAAR Japan), thereby allowing STAAR Japan to completely transfer the risks of being a principal manufacturer to STAAR AG. As a result of this change to an LRD, in the normal course of business, STAAR Japan no longer bears the risks of manufacturing its inventory and operates as a limited-risk distributor for STAAR AG. STAAR AG has engaged STAAR U.S. as its contract manufacturer for all of STAAR AG’s territory, including for Japan and China. Also, beginning in the third quarter of 2013, STAAR AG began selling inventory to STAAR Japan in order for STAAR Japan to market and distribute the products in its territory, principally in Japan and China, as an LRD. As a limited-risk distributor, STAAR Japan is contractually guaranteed to earn a fixed return on its net sales. The rate of return is consistent with what a limited-risk distributor would earn in a distribution agreement of similar risks and responsibilities with an unrelated party as determined by formal transfer price studies conducted by the Company in connection with its global manufacturing consolidation strategy.
As a result of this change from a principal manufacturer to a limited-risk distributor with a guaranteed return, STAAR Japan achieved a three-year cumulative pretax income in the third quarter of 2013, as measured from the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2010 through the end of the third quarter of 2013. Based on these results and management’s consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including the projected pretax income that STAAR Japan is contractually guaranteed to earn as an LRD, management concluded that, at September 27, 2013 and at January 3, 2014, it is more likely than not that STAAR Japan’s deferred tax assets would be realized. Accordingly, STAAR Japan fully released its remaining valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets based on the weight of positive evidence that existed at September 27, 2013. This release amounted to approximately $433,000 of income tax benefit recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2013 (as translated using the Japanese Yen exchange rate on September 27, 2013). The valuation allowance as of December 28, 2012 of $1.0 million was reduced to $433,000 primarily due to the utilization of STAAR Japan’s net operating loss carryover during the nine months ended September 27, 2013. As of January 3, 2014, STAAR Japan’s net deferred tax assets of $289,000, including the remaining net operating loss carryover of $20,000 (as translated using the Japanese Yen exchange rate on January 3, 2014), are included above in the table of components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities.
STAAR Surgical AG
Due to STAAR Surgical AG’s history of profits, the deferred tax assets are considered fully realizable. Included in deferred tax assets and liabilities of STAAR AG is noncurrent deferred tax assets of $185,000 and $187,000 as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively.
Other Income Tax Disclosures
The following tax years remain subject to examination:
Significant Jurisdictions	Open Years
U.S. Federal	2010 – 2012
California	2009 – 2012
Switzerland	2011 – 2012
Japan	2008 – 2012
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes is as follows (in thousands):
	2013			2012			2011
Domestic	$	-2,131		$	-2,967		$	-2,145
Foreign		3,245			2,448			4,849
	$	1,114		$	-519		$	2,704

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 10 – Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company maintains a passive pension plan (the “Swiss Plan”) covering employees of its Swiss subsidiary, which is accounted for as a defined benefit plan.
	Defined Benefit Plan-Switzerland
	In Switzerland employers are required to provide a minimum pension plan for their staff.  The Swiss Plan is financed by contributions of both the employees and employer. The amount of the contributions is defined by the plan regulations and cannot be decreased without amending the plan regulations. It is required that the employer contribute an amount equal to or greater than the employee contribution.
	The following table shows the changes in the  benefit obligation and plan assets and the Swiss Plan’s funded status as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012:
		2013			2012
	Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
	Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	4,853		$	4,710
	Service cost		320			301
	Interest cost		101			116
	Participant contributions		239			234
	Benefits paid		-157			-639
	Actuarial (gain) loss on obligation		-173			131
	Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	5,183		$	4,853
	Change in Plan Assets:
	Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	$	3,053		$	3,058
	Actual return on plan assets (including foreign currency impact)		144			166
	Employer contributions		239			234
	Participant contributions		239			234
	Benefits paid		-158			-639
	Plan assets at fair value, end of period	$	3,517		$	3,053
	Funded status (pension liability), end of year	$	-1,666		$	-1,800
	Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of tax:
	Actuarial loss on plan assets	$	-521		$	-558
	Actuarial loss on benefit obligation		-331			-466
	Actuarial gain recognized in current year		247			205
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	-605		$	-819
	Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	-4,824		$	-4,410
	The underfunded balance of $1,666,000 and $1,800,000 was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively.
	Net periodic pension cost associated with the Swiss Plan during the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011 include the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Service cost	$	320		$	301		$	414
	Interest cost		101			116			127
	Expected return on plan assets		-96			-100			-101
	Actuarial loss recognized in current year		55			54			97
	Prior service loss recognized in current year		—			—			—
	Transition obligation recognized in current year		—			—			—
	Amendments		—			—			—
	Net periodic pension cost	$	380		$	371		$	537
	Changes in other comprehensive loss, net of tax, associated with the Swiss Plan in the year ended January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 include the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Current year actuarial gain on plan assets, net of tax	$	37		$	50
	Current year actuarial (loss) gain on benefit obligation, net of tax		135			-101
	Actuarial gain recorded in current year, net of tax		46			42
	Prior service cost		—			—
	Change in other comprehensive loss	$	218		$	-9
	The amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of January 3, 2014 that is expected to be recognized as a component of the net periodic pension costs during fiscal year 2014 is $24,000.
	Net periodic pension cost and projected and accumulated pension obligation for the Company’s Swiss Plan were calculated on January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 using the following assumptions:
		2013				2012
	Discount rate		2.5	%			2	%
	Salary increases		2	%			2	%
	Expected return on plan assets		3	%			3	%
	Expected average remaining working lives in years		10.5				10.3
	The discount rates of 2.50% and 2.00% as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively are based on an assumed pension benefit maturity of 10 to 15 years. The rate was estimated using the rate of return for high quality Swiss corporate bonds that mature in eight years. This maturity was used as there are significant numbers of high quality Swiss bonds, but very few bonds issued with maturities with longer lives. As of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 the average rate for high quality Swiss corporate bonds was 2.00%. In order to determine an appropriate discount rate, the eight year rate of return was then extrapolated along the yield curve of Swiss government bonds.
	The salary increase rate was based on the Company’s best estimate of future increases over time.
	The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on the expected asset allocation and assumptions concerning long-term interest rates, inflation rates, and risk premiums for equities above the risk-free rates of return. These assumptions take into consideration historical long-term rates of return for relevant asset categories.
	The Company has contracted with the Allianz Suisse Life Insurance Company’s BVG Collective Foundation (“Foundation”) to manage the Swiss Plan. The Swiss pension funds are legally independent from the employer and are regulated by Swiss federal law. The investment strategy is determined by the Foundation and this applies to all its members. However, the funds contributed by an employer are specifically earmarked only for its employees. The unfunded obligations of a plan are not borne by the remaining participating employers. Vested benefits have to be paid to terminated employees and they are generally rolled over into the pension fund of their new employer. Since the Swiss Plan assets are comingled with other plans’ assets within the Foundation, the individual allocation of the assets cannot be determined. The Foundation typically invests in bonds, equities, mortgage and real estate.
	In fiscal 2014, the Company expects to make cash contributions totaling approximately $286,000 to the Swiss Plan.
	The estimated future benefit payments for the Swiss Plan are as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	2014	$	54
	2015		54
	2016		57
2017		60
2018		64
2019 – 2023		386
Total	$	675
Defined Benefit Plan-Japan
STAAR Japan maintains a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (“Japan Plan”) substantially covering all of the employees of STAAR Japan.  Benefits under the Japan Plan are earned, vested and accumulated based on a point-system, primarily based on the combination of years of service, actual and expected future grades (management or non-management) and actual and future zone (performance) levels of the employees.  Each point earned is worth a fixed monetary value, 1,000 Yen per point, regardless of the level grade or zone of the employee.  Gross benefits are calculated based on the cumulative number of points earned over the service period multiplied by 1,000 Yen.  The mandatory retirement age limit is 60 years old.
STAAR Japan administers the pension plan and funds the obligations of the Japan Plan from STAAR Japan’s operating cash flows.   STAAR Japan is not required, and does not intend to provide contributions to the Plan to meet benefit obligations and therefore does not have any plan assets.  Benefit payments are made to beneficiaries as they become due.
The funded status of the benefit plan at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 is as follows:
	2013			2012
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	1,188		$	1,108
Service cost		158			185
Interest cost		8			13
Actuarial loss		47			63
Benefits paid		-123			-65
Foreign exchange adjustment		-229			-116
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	1,049		$	1,188
Changes in Plan Assets:
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		—			—
Employer contributions		—			—
Benefits paid		—			—
Distribution of plan assets		—			—
Foreign exchange adjustment		—			—
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	$	—		$	—
Funded status (pension liability), end of period	$	-1,049		$	-1,188
Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax:
Transition obligation	$	81		$	117
Actuarial gain		191			353
Prior service cost		17			28
Net loss		-184			-204
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	105		$	294
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	-857		$	-972
The underfunded balance of $1,049,000 and $1,188,000, respectively, was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, respectively.
Net periodic pension cost associated with the Japan Plan for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012 and, December 30, 2011 includes the following components (in thousands):
	2013			2012			2011
Service cost	$	158		$	185		$	174
Interest cost		8			13			6
Net amortization of transition obligation		12			16			16
Actuarial gain		-31			-58			-117
Prior service cost (credit)		-1			-1			-1
Net periodic pension cost	$	146		$	155		$	78
Changes in other comprehensive income, net of tax, associated with the Japan Plan for the years ended January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 include the following components (in thousands):
	2013			2012
Amortization of net transition obligation	$	12		$	16
Amortization of actuarial loss		-47			-62
Actuarial loss recorded in current year		-153			-80
Amortization prior service cost		-1			-1
Change in other comprehensive income	$	-189		$	-127
The amount in accumulated other comprehensive income as of January 3, 2014 that is expected to be recognized as a component of the net periodic pension cost in fiscal 2014 is approximately $9,000.
Net periodic pension cost and projected and accumulated pension obligation for the Company’s Japan Plan were calculated on January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 using the following assumptions:
	2013				2012
Discount rate		0.9	%			0.8	%
Salary increases		4.7	%			3	%
Expected return on plan assets		N/A				N/A
Expected average remaining working lives in years		7.48				8.88
The discount rate of 0.90% as of January 3, 2014 and the discount rate of 0.80% as of December 28, 2012 are based on the approximate Japanese government bond rate with a term of 10 to 20 years.
The salary increase average rate was based on the Company’s best estimate of future increases over time.
The estimated future benefit payments for the Japan Plan are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year
2014	$	45
2015		58
2016		75
2017		120
2018		72
2019 – 2023		390
Total	$	760
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) profit sharing plan (“401(k) Plan”) for the benefit of qualified employees in North America. During the fiscal year ended January 3, 2014, employees who participate may elect to make salary deferral contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to the $17,500 of the employees’ eligible payroll subject to annual Internal Revenue Code maximum limitations (with a $5,500 annual catch-up contribution permitted for those over 50 years old). The Company makes a contribution of 50% of the employee’s contribution up to the first 6% of the employee’s compensation. In addition, STAAR may make a discretionary contribution to qualified employees, in accordance with the 401(k) Plan.  During the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, the Company made contributions, net of forfeitures, of $270,000, $284,000, and $150,000, respectively, to the 401(k) Plan.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 11 — Stockholders’ Equity
	Common Stock
	During fiscal year 2013, the Company issued 153,600 shares of restricted stock to certain employees and the Board of Directors. Restricted shares are issued at fair market value on the date of grant, vest over a period of one to three years, and are subject to forfeiture until vested or the service period is achieved and the restriction is lapsed or terminated.     As of January 3, 2014, none of the 2013 grants had vested. Restricted stock is issued and outstanding for legal and voting purposes but are not considered to be participating securities as defined by ASC 260, Earnings per Share, as restricted stock dividends, if any declared, are forfeitable if the service condition is not met (see Note 15).
	Stock-Based Compensation
	Stock-based compensation expense is set forth below (in thousands):
			Fiscal Year Ended
			January 3,			December 28,			December 30,
			2014			2012			2011
	Employee stock options		$	2,683		$	2,595		$	1,361
	Restricted stock			999			590			466
	Restricted stock units			589			—			—
	Consultant compensation			218			23			87
	Total		$	4,489		$	3,208		$	1,914
	There was no net income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for stock-based compensation expense for non-qualified stock options, as the Company fully offsets net deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance (see Note 9).  In addition, the Company capitalized $232,000, $150,000, and $121,000, of stock-based compensation to inventory as of January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, respectively, and recognizes these amounts as cost of sales as the inventory is sold. The Company does not recognize deferred income taxes for incentive stock option compensation expense, and records a tax deduction only when a disqualified disposition has occurred (see Note 9).
	Stock Option Plans
	In fiscal year 2003, the Board of Directors approved the 2003 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”) authorizing awards of equity compensation, including options to purchase common stock and restricted shares of common stock. On May 13, 2013, the stockholders of STAAR approved the Restated 2003 Omnibus Plan, which increased the number of shares available for grants under the Plan by 1,250,000 shares. As of January 3, 2014, all outstanding options have been issued under a plan approved by our stockholders.
	As of January 3, 2014, approximately 1,363,000 shares were authorized and available for grants under the 2003 Omnibus Plan. The 2003 Plan provides for various forms of stock-based incentives. To date, of the available forms of awards under the 2003 Plan, the Company has granted only stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. Options under the plan are granted at fair market value on the date of grant, become exercisable generally over a three- or four-year service period, or as determined by the Board of Directors, and expire over periods not exceeding 10 years from the date of grant. Certain option and share awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the 2003 Plan). The Company settles stock option exercises with newly issued shares of common stock. Restricted stock grants under the 2003 Plan generally vest over a period of one, three or four years. Restricted stock units generally vest over a period of one year if both performance and service conditions have been met, as further described below.
	Assumptions
	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of new stock option grants and establish that fair value on the date of grant using the assumptions noted in the following table. Additionally, all option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected life of the option and expected stock price volatility. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and optionee termination experience. The expected term of options granted is derived from the historical exercise and activity from the time of grant to the time of exercise or post-vesting cancellation date, and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding.  The Company has determined an estimated  9.92% forfeiture rate used in the model for fiscal year 2013 option grants based on historical forfeiture experience.   The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Following are the weighted-average assumptions used with the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value estimates of options granted:
			Fiscal Year Ended
			January 3,				December 28,				December 30,
			2014				2012				2011
	Expected dividend yield			0	%			0	%			0	%
	Expected volatility			71	%			79	%			77	%
	Risk-free interest rate			0.73	%			0.82	%			1.82	%
	Expected term (in years)			4.12				5.21				5.49
	A summary of option activity under the Plan as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
	Options			Shares			Weighted-			Weighted-			Aggregate
				(000’s)			Average			Average			Intrinsic
							Exercise			Remaining			Value
							Price			Contractual			(000’s)
										Term
	Outstanding at December 28, 2012			3,376		$	5.89
	Granted			603			6.77
	Exercised			-645			5.1
	Forfeited or expired			-35			8.53
	Outstanding at January 3, 2014			3,299		$	6.17			6.27		$	32,745
	Exercisable at January 3, 2014			2,168		$	5.3			5.04			23,405
	The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the fiscal years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, was $3.51, $6.65, and $3.85, per option, respectively.  The total fair value of options vested during fiscal years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, was $3,084,000, $1,830,000, and $1,049,000, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the fiscal years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, was $3,894,000, $1,240,000, and $2,533,000, respectively.
	As of January 3, 2014, there was $3.5 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.64 years.
	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at January 3, 2014 (in thousands, except per share data):
	Range of Exercise Prices			Number				Options		Weighted-		Number			Weighted-
				Outstanding at				Outstanding		Average		Exercisable at			Average
				January 3,				Weighted-Average		Exercise		January 3,			Exercise
				2014				Remaining		Price		2014			Price
								Contractual Life
	$	0.95				29		5.24 Years		$	0.95			29	$	0.95
	$	1.56 to $2.30				320		4.30 Years		$	2.19			320	$	2.19
	$	2.45 to $3.60				177		5.48 Years		$	3.29			177	$	3.29
	$	3.75 to $5.29				506		3.16 Years		$	4.22			497	$	4.2
	$	5.34 to $7.32				1,457		6.96 Years		$	5.71			817	$	5.89
	$	7.50 to $13.34				810		7.94 Years		$	10.61			328	$	10
						3,299		6.27 Years		$	6.17			2,168	$	5.3
	Warrants
	On December 14, 2007, the Company entered into a Warrant Agreement with Broadwood Partners, L.P. (“Broadwood”) granting the right to purchase up to 700,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share, exercisable for a period of six years.  On December 12, 2013, Broadwood exercised these warrants with a “cashless” exercise (net share settlement) as allowed for under the original Warrant Agreement (“cashless exercise”).  Under the terms of the cashless exercise, the Company issued 485,456 shares of common stock to Broadwood and simultaneously withheld 214,544 shares of common stock as consideration for the $2.8 million aggregate ($4.00 per share) exercise price owed by Broadwood to the Company, the number of shares withheld determined using the Company’s average 21-day per share closing stock price preceding the exercise date.
	On June 1, 2009, the Company issued warrants to Broadwood, pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, granting the right to purchase up to an additional 700,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share, exercisable for a period of six years, which remain outstanding.  The warrants are accounted for as an equity instrument.
	The Warrant Agreement provides that the Company will register the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants with the Securities Exchange Commission.  The Company filed and secured effectiveness of a registration statement covering resale of the shares.  If the Company fails to keep the registration statement effective and the lapse exceeds permitted suspensions, as the holder’s sole remedy, the Company will be obligated to issue an additional 30,000 warrants (“Penalty Warrants”) for each month that the Company does not meet this effectiveness requirement through the term of the remaining warrants, June 1, 2015.  The Company does not consider the issuance of Penalty Warrants likely.
	The fair value of the warrants was estimated on the issuance date, June 1, 2009, using a Black-Scholes option valuation model applying the assumptions noted in the following table:
			As of
			June 1, 2009
	Common stock price per share		$	1.01
	Number of warrants			700,000
	Expected dividends			0	%
Expected volatility			74.4	%
Risk-free rate			3.28	%
Life (in years)			6
A summary of the warrants activity is provided below:
		Shares			Weighted-			Weighted-			Aggregate
		(000’s)			Average			Average			Intrinsic
					Exercise			Remaining			Value
					Price			Contractual			(000’s)
								Term
Outstanding at December 28, 2012			1,470		$	4.1
Granted			—			—
Exercised			-700			4
Forfeited or expired			-70			6
Outstanding at January 3, 2014			700		$	4			1.41		$	8,470
Exercisable at January 3, 2014			700		$	4			1.41		$	8,470
Restricted stock
A summary of restricted stock as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
		Shares				Weighted
		(000’s)				Average
						Grant-Date
						Fair Value
						per Share
Outstanding at December 28, 2012			205			$	8.48
Granted			154				6.58
Forfeited			—				—
Vested			-18				9.9
Outstanding at January 3, 2014			341			$	7.55
Restricted Stock Units
In March 2013, pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2003 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee approved a 2013 Restricted Stock Unit Plan (“2013 RSU Plan”), which is a performance contingent restricted stock award. On March 4, 2013, the Company granted 135,000 RSUs as presented in the table below with vesting subject to a performance and service condition. As of January 3, 2014, although the Company had achieved the performance target, none of the RSUs were vested due to not having met the service condition date, which is March 12, 2014.
A summary of restricted stock units as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
		Units				Weighted
		(000’s)				Average
						Grant-Date
						Fair Value
						per Share
Outstanding at December 28, 2012			—			$	—
Granted			135				5.34
Forfeited			—				—
Vested			—				—
Outstanding at January 3, 2014			135			$	5.34

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies
	Lease Obligations and Firm Commitment
	The Company leases certain property, plant and equipment under capital and operating lease agreements. These leases vary in duration and contain renewal options and/or escalation clauses.  Current and long-term obligations under capital leases are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
	Estimated future minimum lease payments under leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of January 3, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year	Operating		Capital
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2,058	$	303
	2015		1,817		142
	2016		1,715		6
	2017		1,731		—
	2018		257		—
	Thereafter		429		—
	Total minimum lease payments	$	8,007	$	451
	Less amounts representing interest		—		22
		$	8,007	$	429
	Rent expense was approximately $1.5 million, $1.9 million, and $1.8 million, for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, respectively.
	The Company had the following assets under capital lease at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Machinery and equipment	$	3,922	$	3,923
	Furniture and fixtures		611		946
	Leasehold improvements		155		155
			4,688		5,024
	Less accumulated depreciation		3,984		3,576
		$	704	$	1,448
	Depreciation expense for assets under capital lease for each of the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, was approximately $566,000, $522,000, and $615,000, respectively.
	As of January 3, 2014, the Company has a firm commitment of $800,000 which it is obligated to fulfill in the following twenty-four month period solely to be used for the acquisition of property and equipment.  Once fulfilled, the property and equipment acquired under the firm commitment will be treated as assets acquired under a capital lease. The Company also has a minimum purchase commitment of $1,064,000 with a supplier for purchase of certain finished goods inventory.
	Indemnification Agreements
	The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that may require the Company: (a) to indemnify them against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, except as prohibited by applicable law; (b) to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified; and (c) to make a good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance. The Company currently has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance through a third party carrier.
	Tax Filings
	The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately provided for any ultimate amounts that are likely to result from these audits; however, final assessments, if any, could be significantly different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements.
	Employment Agreements
	The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and certain other officers have as provisions of their employment agreements certain rights, including continuance of cash compensation and benefits, upon a “change in control,” which may include an acquisition of substantially all of its assets, or termination “without cause or for good reason” as defined in the employment agreements.
	Litigation and Claims
	From time to time the Company is subject to various claims and legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of our business. These claims and legal proceedings may relate to contractual rights and obligations, employment matters, and claims of product liability. STAAR maintains insurance coverage for product liability claims but may not be insured against other potentially material claims. Reserves are recorded for losses management determines are probable and reasonably estimable. While the Company is not aware of any claims likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations, new claims or unexpected results of existing claims could lead to significant financial harm.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 13 — Related Party Transactions
	The Company has made various advances to certain employees.   Amounts due from employees included in prepaids, deposits, and other current assets at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 were $34,000 and $11,000, respectively.

Supplemental_Disclosure_of_Cas

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	Note 14 — Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
	Interest paid was $153,000, $270,000, and $471,000, for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, respectively. Income taxes paid amounted to approximately $1,534,000, $241,000, and $649,000, for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011, respectively.
	The Company’s non-cash investing and financing activities were as follows (in thousands):
	Non-cash investing and financing activities:	2013		2012		2011
	Assets obtained by capital lease	$	—	$	527	$	331
	Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable	$	881	$	—	$	—

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Income_L

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	Note 15 — Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (in thousands except per share amounts):
		2013			2012		2011
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss)	$	398		$	-1,763	$	1,348
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares and denominator
	for basic calculation:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding		37,017			36,433		35,578
	Less: Unvested restricted stock		-311			-180		-144
	Denominator for basic calculation		36,706			36,253		35,434
	Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive
	common stock:
	Stock options		1,235			—		859
	Unvested restricted stock		177			—		—
	Restricted stock units		75			—		—
	Warrants		414			—		585
	Denominator for diluted calculation		38,607			36,253		36,878
	Net income (loss) per share – basic	$	0.01		$	-0.05	$	0.04
	Net income (loss) per share - diluted	$	0.01		$	-0.05	$	0.04
	The following table sets forth (in thousands) the weighted average number of options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock and restricted stock which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts because the effects would be anti-dilutive.
		2013		2012		2011
	Options	1,109		1,632		1,101
	Warrants	—		746		—
	Restricted stock	—		180		144
	Total	1,109		2,558		1,245

Geographic_and_Product_Data

Geographic and Product Data	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 16 — Geographic and Product Data
	The Company markets and sells its products in approximately 60 countries and has manufacturing sites in the United States and Switzerland. Other than the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and Spain, the Company does not conduct business in any country in which its sales in that country exceed 5% of consolidated sales. Sales are attributed to countries based on location of customers. The composition of the Company’s sales to unaffiliated customers is set forth below (in thousands):
	Net sales to unaffiliated customers	2013		2012		2011
	United States	$	12,851	$	12,427	$	13,852
	Japan		17,666		16,692		15,690
	Korea		7,743		6,713		8,142
	China		8,618		8,406		6,354
	Spain		4,867		—		—
	Others*		20,470		19,545		18,727
	Total	$	72,215	$	63,783	$	62,765
	*No other location individually exceeds 5% of total sales.
	100% of the Company’s sales are generated from the ophthalmic surgical product segment and, therefore, the Company operates as one operating segment for financial reporting purposes. The Company’s principal products are IOLs used in cataract surgery and ICLs used in refractive surgery.   The composition of the Company’s net sales by product line is as follows (in thousands):
	Net sales by product line	2013		2012			2011
	ICLs	$	44,128	$	35,080	$	32,072
	IOLs		24,153		25,971		27,547
	Other surgical products		3,934		2,732		3,146
	Total	$	72,215	$	63,783	$	62,765
	The composition of the Company’s long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, between those in the United States, Switzerland, and Japan is set forth below (in thousands):
	Long-lived assets	2013		2012
	U.S.	$	6,096	$	3,052
	Switzerland		849		984
	Japan		460		1,403
	Total	$	7,405	$	5,439
	The Company sells its products internationally, which subjects 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.

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]	'
	Note 17 — Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
	Summary unaudited quarterly financial data from continuing operations for fiscal 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands except per share data):
	January 3, 2014	1st Qtr.		2nd Qtr.		3rd Qtr.		4th Qtr.
	Net sales	$	18,001		18,164		17,106		18,944
	Gross profit		12,654		12,620		12,059		12,976
	Net income (loss)		471		278		525		-876
	Net income (loss) per share – basic		0.01		0.01		0.01		-0.02
	Net income (loss) per share – diluted		0.01		0.01		0.01		-0.02
	December 28, 2012	1st Qtr.		2nd Qtr.		3rd Qtr.		4th Qtr.
	Net sales	$	15,509	$	15,942	$	15,866	$	16,466
	Gross profit		10,901		11,045		11,176		11,168
	Net income (loss)		232		-491		-90		-1,414
	Net income (loss) per share – basic		0.01		-0.01		0		-0.04
	Net income (loss) per share – diluted		0.01		-0.01		0		-0.04
	Quarterly and year-to-date computations of net income (loss) per share amounts are made independently. Therefore, the sum of the per share amounts for the quarters may not agree with the per share amounts for the year.

Manufacturing_Consolidation_Pr

Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Note 18 — Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy
	From fiscal 2011 through 2013, the Company has devoted significant resources to two initiatives: a project to consolidate global manufacturing, and development of a strategy to optimize its global organization for tax purposes. The goal of these strategies is to further improve upon gross profit margin by streamlining operations, thereby reducing costs and to increase profits in the U.S., to enable the Company to utilize its $121.7 million in net operating loss carryforwards and at the same time, reduce income taxes in foreign jurisdictions where it pays tax. STAAR currently manufactures its products in four facilities worldwide. It has developed a plan to methodically consolidate its manufacturing in a single site at its Monrovia, California location which is expected to be substantially completed during 2014.
	The Company has invested approximately $5.9 million over a three-year period, of which it incurred approximately $2.2 million during 2013. These expenses are included in the other general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended January 3, 2014. Expenditures to date have largely consisted of severance, employee costs, professional fees to advisors and consultants.
	A summary of the activity for these initiatives is presented below as of January 3, 2014 (in thousands):
		Termination Benefits		Other Associated Costs		Total
	Liability at December 28, 2012	$	504	$	293	$	797
	Costs incurred and charged to expense		481		1,761		2,242
	Cash payments		-254		-2,026		-2,280
	Liability at January 3, 2014	$	731	$	28	$	759
	Total costs incurred to date	$	1,381	$	4,558	$	5,939
	Total costs expected	$	1,592	$	4,608	$	6,200
	Total costs remaining	$	211	$	50	$	261

SCHEDULE_II_VALUATION_AND_QUAL

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
	Column A	Column B		Column C		Column D		Column E
	Description	Balance at		Additions		Deductions		Balance at
		Beginning of						End of
		Year						Year
		(In thousands)
	2013
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	1,316	$	263	$	130	$	1,449
	deducted from accounts receivable in balance sheet
	Deferred tax asset valuation allowance		51,093		744		1,014		50,823
		$	52,409	$	1,007	$	1,144	$	52,272
	2012
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	1,128	$	255	$	67	$	1,316
	deducted from accounts receivable in balance sheet
	Deferred tax asset valuation allowance		51,571		—		478		51,093
		$	52,699	$	255	$	545	$	52,409
	2011
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	1,423	$	195	$	489	$	1,128
	deducted from accounts receivable in balance sheet
	Deferred tax asset valuation allowance		51,689		—		118		51,571
		$	53,112	$	195	$	607	$	52,699

Organization_and_Description_o1

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization and Description Of Business [Policy Text Block]	'
	Organization and Description of Business
	STAAR Surgical Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1982 for the purpose of developing, producing, and marketing intraocular lenses (“IOLs”) and other products for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. Principal products are IOLs and implantable Collamer lenses (“ICLs”).  IOLs are prosthetic intraocular lenses used to restore vision that has been adversely affected by cataracts, and include the Company’s lines of silicone and Collamer IOLs and the Preloaded Injector (a silicone or acrylic IOL preloaded into a single-use disposable injector).  ICLs, consisting of the Company’s ICL and Toric implantable collamer lenses (“TICL”), are intraocular lenses used to correct refractive conditions such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism.
	As of January 3, 2014, the Company’s significant subsidiaries consisted of:
		·	STAAR Surgical AG, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Switzerland to develop, manufacture and distribute certain of the Company’s products worldwide including ICLs.
		·	STAAR Japan, a wholly owned subsidiary that markets and distributes Preloaded IOLs and ICLs.
	The Company operates as one operating segment, the ophthalmic surgical market, for financial reporting purposes (see Note 16).
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of STAAR Surgical and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Fiscal Year and Interim Reporting Periods
	The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Friday nearest December 31 and each of the Company’s quarterly reporting periods generally consists of 13 weeks.  Fiscal year 2013 is based on a 53-week period, while fiscal years 2012 and 2011 are based on a 52-week period.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Foreign Currency
	The functional currency of the Company and its Japanese subsidiary is the local currency. The functional currency of the Company’s Swiss subsidiary, STAAR Surgical AG, is the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated at rates of exchange in effect at the close of the period. Sales and expenses are translated at the weighted average of exchange rates in effect during the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are deferred and are shown as a separate component in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).  During 2013 and 2012, the net foreign translation losses were $1,327,000 and $689,000, respectively, and in 2011 a net foreign translation gain of $211,000. Net foreign currency transaction gains, included in the consolidated statements of operations under other income (expense) were, $39,000, $111,000, and $86,000, respectively.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue when realized or realizable and earned, which is when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred; the sale price is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.  The Company records revenue from non-consignment product sales when title and risk of ownership has been transferred, which is typically at shipping point, except for the STAAR Japan subsidiary, which is typically recognized when the product is received by the customer.  STAAR Japan does not have significant deferred revenues as of January 3, 2014 as delivery to the customer is generally made within the same or the next day of shipment. The Company presents sales tax it collects from its customers on a net basis (excluded from revenues).
	The Company’s products are marketed to ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers or vision centers, and distributors. IOLs may be offered to surgeons and hospitals on a consignment basis.  The Company maintains title and risk of loss of consigned inventory and recognizes revenue for consignment inventory when the Company is notified that the IOL has been implanted.
	ICLs are sold only to certified surgeons who have completed requisite training or for use in scheduled training surgeries. As a result, STAAR partially mitigates the risk that the revenue it recognizes on shipment of ICLs would need to be reversed because of a surgeon’s failure to qualify for its use.
	The Company sells certain injector parts to an unrelated customer and supplier (collectively referred to as “supplier”) whereby these injector part sales are either made as a final sale to the supplier or, are sold to be reprocessed by the supplier into finished goods inventory (a preloaded acrylic IOL). These finished goods are then sold back to the Company at an agreed upon, contractual price. The Company makes a profit margin on either type of sale with the supplier and each type of sale is made under separate purchase and sales orders between the two parties resulting in cash settlement for the orders sold or repurchased. For parts that are sold as a final sale, the Company recognizes a sale consistent with its routine revenue recognition policies as disclosed in Note 1 and those sales are included as part of other sales in total net sales. For the injector parts that are sold to be reprocessed into finished goods, the Company does not recognize revenue on these sales in accordance with ASC 845-10, Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty. Instead, the Company records the transaction at its carrying value, deferring any profit margin in inventory, until the finished good inventory is sold to an end-customer (not the supplier) at which point the Company records the sale and the related cost of sale, including the release of the deferred cost of sale in inventory, related to these finished goods.
	For all sales, the Company is considered the principal in the transaction as the Company, among other factors, is  the primary obligor in the arrangement, bears general inventory risk, credit risk, has latitude in establishing the sales price, is responsible for authorized and general sales returns risk and therefore, sales and cost of sales are reported separately in the statement of operations instead of a single, net amount.  Cost of sales includes cost of production, freight and distribution, royalties, and inventory provisions, net of any purchase discounts.
	The Company generally permits returns of product if the product is returned within the time allowed by its return policies and records an allowance for estimated returns at the time revenue is recognized. The Company’s allowance for estimated returns considers historical trends and experience, the impact of new product launches, the entry of a competitor, availability of timely and pertinent information and the various terms and arrangements offered, including sales with extended credit terms.  Sales are reported net of estimated returns.
	The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based on customer payment history and credit worthiness, as determined by the Company’s review of its customers’ current credit information.  The Company continuously monitors collections and payments from customers and maintains a provision for estimated credit losses and uncollectible accounts based upon its historical experience and any specific customer collection issues that have been identified.  Amounts determined to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Use of Estimates
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and, as such, include amounts based on significant estimates and judgments of management with consideration given to materiality. significant estimates used include determining valuation allowances for uncollectible trade receivables, sales returns reserves, obsolete and excess inventory, deferred income taxes, and tax reserves, including valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, pension liabilities, evaluation of asset impairment, in determining the useful life of depreciable and definite-lived intangible assets, and in the variables and assumptions used to calculate and record stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks which from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the institutions and believes that the risk of any loss is minimal.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Concentration of Credit Risk and Revenues
	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk principally consist of trade receivables. This risk is limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their geographic dispersion. As of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, there were no customers with trade receivables balances that represented 10% or more of consolidated trade receivables. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are performed and, generally, no collateral is required. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses, in the aggregate, have not exceeded management’s expectations.
	A single customer has accounted for 11%, 11%, and 13% of the Company’s consolidated net sales in each of the last three fiscal years, respectively.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
		⋅	Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
		⋅	Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.
		⋅	Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable; that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would make and significant to the fair value.
	The carrying values reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, prepaids and other current assets, accounts payable, other current liabilities and line of credit approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Inventories, Net
	Inventories, net are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market. Inventories include the costs of raw material, labor, and manufacturing overhead, work in process and finished goods. The Company provides estimated inventory allowances for excess, expiring, slow moving and obsolete inventory as well as inventory whose carrying value is in excess of net realizable value to properly reflect inventory at the lower of cost or market.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation on property, plant, and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as noted below. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the related lease term. Major improvements are capitalized and minor replacements, maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
	Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:
	Machinery and equipment		5-10 years
	Furniture and equipment		3-7 years
	Computer and peripherals		2-5 years
	Leasehold improvements		(a)
		(a)	Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the associated leases.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Goodwill
	Goodwill, which has an indefinite life, is not amortized but instead is tested for impairment on an annual basis or between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is done at the reporting unit level. Reporting units can be one level below the operating segment level, and can be combined when reporting units within the same operating segment have similar economic characteristics. The Company has determined that its reporting units have similar economic characteristics, and therefore, can be combined into one reporting unit for the purposes of goodwill impairment testing. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and 2012, the Company performed its annual impairment test and determined that its goodwill was not impaired.  As of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012, the carrying value of goodwill was $1.8 million.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews property and equipment and intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We measure recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying value of such assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows the assets are expected to generate. When the estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than their carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference between the assets’ fair value and their carrying value. A review of long lived assets was conducted as of January 3, 2014 and no impairment was identified.
	Amortization is computed on the straight-line basis, which is the Company’s best estimate of the pattern of economic benefits over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from 3 to 20 years for patents, certain acquired rights and licenses, 10 years for customer relationships, and 3 to 10 years for developed technology.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Research and Development Costs
	Expenditures for research activities relating to product development and improvement are charged to expense as incurred.
Advertising Cost, Policy, Expensed Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]	'
	Advertising Cost
	Advertising costs, which are included in marketing and selling expenses, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were $2,100,000, $1,810,000, and $1,306,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, net operating loss and credit carryforwards, and uncertainty in income taxes, on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis. Valuation allowances, or reductions to deferred tax assets, are recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset may not be realized or realizable in the jurisdiction in which they arise. The impact on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates and laws, if any, are applied to the years during which temporary differences are expected to be settled and reflected in the financial statements in the period of enactment.
	The Company recognizes the income tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that, based on technical merits, the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes.  The amount of tax benefit recorded, if any, is limited to the amount that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the taxing authority (that has full knowledge of all relevant information). Accrued interest, if any, related to uncertain tax positions is included as a component of income tax expense, and penalties, if incurred, are recognized as a component of operating income or loss.  The Company does not have any uncertain tax positions as of any of the periods presented.  The Company did not incur significant interest and penalties for any period presented.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
	The Company has only one class of common stock and no participating securities which would require the two-class method of calculating basic earnings per share.  Basic per share information is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, net of unvested restricted stock, during the period.  Diluted per share information is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, adjusted for the effects of potentially dilutive common stock, which are comprised of outstanding warrants, stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units, during the period, using the treasury-stock method.
Postemployment Benefit Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Employee Defined Benefit Plans
	The Company maintains a passive pension plan (the “Swiss Plan”) covering employees of its Swiss subsidiary.  The Swiss Plan conforms to the features of a defined benefit plan.
	The Company also maintains a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers substantially all of the employees of STAAR Japan.
	The Company recognizes the funded status, or difference between the fair value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligations of the pension plan on the statement of financial position, with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income. If the projected benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets, then that difference or unfunded status represents the pension liability. The Company records a net periodic pension cost in the consolidated statement of operations. The liabilities and annual income or expense of both plans are determined using methodologies that involve several actuarial assumptions, the most significant of which are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of asset return (asset returns and fair-value of plan assets are applicable for the Swiss Plan only). The fair values of plan assets are determined based on prevailing market prices (see Note 10).
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Stock Based Compensation
	Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards granted is based on the grant-date fair value. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term of three to four years (see Note 11).
	The Company also issues restricted stock to its executive officers and Board of Directors (the Board), which are restricted and unvested common shares issued at fair market value on the date of grant. For the restricted shares issued to the Board, the restricted stock vests over a one-year service period and are subject to forfeiture (or acceleration, depending upon the circumstances) until vested or the service period is completed.  The Company has also issued performance accelerated restricted stock (PARS) to its executive officers which carry a three year service condition and a performance condition such that if the Company meets or exceeds certain predetermined performance metrics set by the Directors, up to one third of the grant vesting may be accelerated annually.  If the performance metrics are not achieved, the restricted stock vests after three years.  Restricted stock compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of one to three years for the Board and PARS grants, respectively, based on the grant-date fair value of the stock.  Restricted stock is considered legally issued and outstanding on the grant date (see Notes 11 and 15).
	The Company issues restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the 2013 RSU Plan (see Note 11), which is a performance contingent restricted stock award based upon the Company exceeding an internally established annual revenue target which is above the established annual revenue plan.  The RSUs contain both a performance and a service condition such that they vest after calculating the total financial performance for fiscal year 2013, at which time, if the internally established revenue target is met or exceeded and the grantee is still employed with the Company on the measurement date, which is one year after the grant date, the RSUs will become fully vested.  The Company recognizes compensation cost for the RSUs if and when the Company concludes that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, net of an estimate of pre-vesting forfeitures, over the requisite service period based on the grant-date fair value of the stock.  The Company reassesses the probability of vesting at each reporting period and adjusts compensation cost based on its probability assessment.
	Once the RSUs are vested, equivalent common shares will be issued or issuable to the grantee and therefore the RSUs are not included in total common shares issued and outstanding until vested (see Notes 11 and 15).
	The Company accounts for options granted to persons other than employees and directors under Equity –Based Payments to Non-Employees. The fair value of such options is re-measured each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and income or expense is recognized over the vesting period for changes to the fair value for the unvested options.  As the options vest, no such re-measurement is necessary or performed.
Accounting For Warrants [Policy Text Block]	'
	Accounting for Warrants
	The Company has issued certain warrants under an agreement that expressly provides that if the Company fails to satisfy continuous registration requirements the Company will be obligated only to issue additional common stock as the holder’s sole remedy, with no possibility of settlement in cash. The Company accounts for these warrants as equity because additional shares are the only form of settlement available to the holder. These warrants are only valued on the issuance date and not subsequently revalued. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the valuation model to estimate the fair value of all warrants.  See Note 11.
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The Company presents comprehensive income (loss) in two separate but not consecutive consolidated financial statements, the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Total comprehensive income (loss) includes, in addition to net income (loss), changes in equity that are excluded from the consolidated statements of operations and are recorded directly into a separate section of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of AOCI attributable to the Company for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012 and December 30, 2011 (in thousands):
			Foreign		Defined		Defined		Accumulated
			Currency		Benefit		Benefit		Other
			Translation		Pension Plan-		Pension Plan-		Comprehensive
					Japan		Switzerland		Income
	Balance, December 31, 2010		$	2,584	$	642	$	-1,126	$	2,100
	Other comprehensive income (loss)			211		-219		403		395
	Tax effect			-		-		-90		-90
	Balance, December 30, 2011			2,795		423		-813		2,405
	Other comprehensive loss			-689		-127		-11		-827
	Tax effect			-		-		2		2
	Balance, December 28, 2012			2,106		296		-822		1,580
	Other comprehensive income (loss)			-861		-126		280		-707
	Tax effect			-466		-63		-62		-591
	Balance, January 3, 2014		$	779	$	107	$	-604	$	282
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Prior Year Reclassifications
	Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior financial statement information to conform to current presentation.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (Topic 740)” (ASU 2013-11), which states that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward.  To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date.  ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company plans to adopt this guidance during its quarter ending March 28, 2014 and is assessing the impact, if any, to the consolidated financial statements.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or an investment in a Foreign Entity (Topic 830)” (ASU 2013-05), which provides guidance on releasing cumulative translation adjustments when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity.  In addition, these amendments provide guidance on the release of cumulative translation adjustments in partial sales of equity method investments and in step acquisitions.  This new guidance is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date.  Prior periods should not be adjusted and early adoption is permitted.  The Company plans to adopt this guidance during its quarter ending April 4, 2014 and does not expect the adoption to have any significant impact to its consolidated financial statements.

Organization_and_Description_o2

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Useful Life Of Property Plant And Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets:
	Machinery and equipment		5-10 years
	Furniture and equipment		3-7 years
	Computer and peripherals		2-5 years
	Leasehold improvements		(a)
		(a)	Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the associated leases.
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of AOCI attributable to the Company for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012 and December 30, 2011 (in thousands):
			Foreign		Defined		Defined		Accumulated
			Currency		Benefit		Benefit		Other
			Translation		Pension Plan-		Pension Plan-		Comprehensive
					Japan		Switzerland		Income
	Balance, December 31, 2010		$	2,584	$	642	$	-1,126	$	2,100
	Other comprehensive income (loss)			211		-219		403		395
	Tax effect			-		-		-90		-90
	Balance, December 30, 2011			2,795		423		-813		2,405
	Other comprehensive loss			-689		-127		-11		-827
	Tax effect			-		-		2		2
	Balance, December 28, 2012			2,106		296		-822		1,580
	Other comprehensive income (loss)			-861		-126		280		-707
	Tax effect			-466		-63		-62		-591
	Balance, January 3, 2014		$	779	$	107	$	-604	$	282

Accounts_Receivable_Trade_Net_

Accounts Receivable Trade, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Accounts Receivable Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	Accounts receivable trade, net consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Domestic	$	2,135	$	1,222
	Foreign		10,045		8,637
			12,180		9,859
	Less allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns		1,449		1,316
		$	10,731	$	8,543

Inventories_Net_Tables

Inventories, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories, net consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Raw materials and purchased parts	$	1,367	$	1,946
	Work in process		913		1,318
	Finished goods		11,029		8,945
			13,309		12,209
	Less inventory reserves		795		536
		$	12,514	$	11,673

Prepaids_Deposits_and_Other_Cu1

Prepaids, Deposits, and Other Current Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Prepaid Expenses [Table Text Block]	'
	Prepaids, deposits, and other current assets consisted of the following January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Prepaids and deposits	$	2,157	$	1,672
	Value added tax (VAT) receivable		618		307
	Deferred charge for foreign profits		362		—
	Other current assets		366		204
		$	3,503	$	2,183

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_T

Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Machinery and equipment	$	16,225	$	14,734
	Furniture and fixtures		4,837		3,483
	Leasehold improvements		6,552		5,281
			27,614		23,498
	Less accumulated depreciation		20,209		18,059
		$	7,405	$	5,439

Intangible_Assets_Net_Tables

Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	Intangible assets, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):
		January 3, 2014						December 28, 2012
		Gross		Accumulated		Net		Gross		Accumulated		Net
		Carrying		Amortization				Carrying		Amortization
		Amount						Amount
	Amortized intangible assets:
	Patents and licenses	$	10,637	$	-10,057	$	580	$	10,786	$	-9,875	$	911
	Customer relationships		1,490		-894		596		1,835		-917		918
	Developed technology		947		-743		204		1,166		-853		313
	Total	$	13,074	$	-11,694	$	1,380	$	13,787	$	-11,645	$	2,142
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table shows estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the next five succeeding years and thereafter (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year	Amount
	2014	$	374
	2015		241
	2016		239
	2017		235
	2018		36
	Thereafter		255
	Total	$	1,380

Other_Current_Liabilities_Tabl

Other Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Other current liabilities consisted of the following at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Accrued salaries and wages	$	1,630	$	1,950
	Accrued bonuses		935		500
	Accrued severance		731		499
	Accrued insurance		551		515
	Accrued commissions		528		107
	Accrued income taxes		485		451
	Accrued audit expenses		328		396
	Customer credit balances		153		324
	Other(1)		1,031		960
		$	6,372	$	5,702

Liabilities_Tables

Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Change in Asset Retirement Obligation [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table describes all changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability (in thousands):
		January 3,		December 28,
		2014		2012
	Asset retirement obligation at beginning of the year	$	707	$	577
	Increase (decrease) in estimated liabilities		-221		169
	Liabilities settled		-206		—
	Accretion expense		10		15
	Impact of changes in the Japanese Yen		-133		-54
	Asset retirement obligation at end of the year	$	157	$	707

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	'
	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Current tax provision:
	U.S. federal (benefit)	$	-121		$	—		$	—
	State		12			11			13
	Foreign		721			1,125			1,012
	Total current provision		612			1,136			1,025
	Deferred tax provision:
	U.S. federal and state		—			—			—
	Foreign provision		104			108			331
	Total deferred provision		104			108			331
	Provision for income taxes	$	716		$	1,244		$	1,356
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	'
	The provision for income before taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes as follows (in thousands):
		2013							2012					2011
	Computed provision for taxes based on income		34	%		$	379			34	%	$	-176		34	%	$	919
	at statutory rate
	Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
	Permanent differences		3.2				35			-7.9			41		1.4			37
	State minimum taxes, net of federal income		0.7				8			-1.4			8		0.3			9
	tax benefit
	Stock options		—				—			-56			290		—			—
	State tax benefit		6.4				71			9.2			-48		-4.3			-116
	Tax rate difference due to foreign statutory rate		43.7				487			-43.8			227		-19.7			-529
	Foreign tax detriment (benefit)		—				—			3.1			-16		11.6			312
	Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested		-7.7				-86			-223.4			1,158		29.1			788
	Foreign dividend withholding		12.5				140			-22.1			114		5.5			147
	Expiration of charitable contribution carryover		0.2				2			-16.1			83		—			—
	Reserve		-10.9				-121			—			—		—			—
	Other		6.4				71			1.1			-6		1.4			37
	Valuation allowance		-24.2				-270			83.2			-431		-9.2			-248
	Effective tax provision rate		64.3	%		$	716			-240.1	%	$	1,244		50.1	%	$	1,356
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
	Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	21		$	89
	Inventories		11			190
	Accrued vacation		375			534
	State taxes		—			3
	Accrued other expenses		105			187
	Other		-137			-111
	Valuation allowance		-741			-1,331
	Total current deferred tax liabilities	$	-366		$	-439
	Non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities):
	Net operating loss carryforwards		50,409			51,533
	Stock-based compensation		2,212			1,602
	Business, foreign and AMT credit carryforwards		921			844
	Capitalized R&D		525			605
	Contributions		57			58
	Pensions		731			877
	Depreciation and amortization		360			202
	Foreign tax withholding		-1,129			-885
	Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested		-4,992			-5,783
	Other		-40			11
	Valuation allowance		-50,082			-49,762
	Total non-current deferred tax liabilities	$	-1,028		$	-698
Summary of Income Tax Examinations [Table Text Block]	'
	The following tax years remain subject to examination:
	Significant Jurisdictions	Open Years
	U.S. Federal	2010 – 2012
	California	2009 – 2012
	Switzerland	2011 – 2012
	Japan	2008 – 2012
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	'
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes is as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Domestic	$	-2,131		$	-2,967		$	-2,145
	Foreign		3,245			2,448			4,849
		$	1,114		$	-519		$	2,704

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Swiss Plan [Member]	'
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table shows the changes in the  benefit obligation and plan assets and the Swiss Plan’s funded status as of January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012:
		2013			2012
	Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
	Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	4,853		$	4,710
	Service cost		320			301
	Interest cost		101			116
	Participant contributions		239			234
	Benefits paid		-157			-639
	Actuarial (gain) loss on obligation		-173			131
	Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	5,183		$	4,853
	Change in Plan Assets:
	Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	$	3,053		$	3,058
	Actual return on plan assets (including foreign currency impact)		144			166
	Employer contributions		239			234
	Participant contributions		239			234
	Benefits paid		-158			-639
	Plan assets at fair value, end of period	$	3,517		$	3,053
	Funded status (pension liability), end of year	$	-1,666		$	-1,800
	Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of tax:
	Actuarial loss on plan assets	$	-521		$	-558
	Actuarial loss on benefit obligation		-331			-466
	Actuarial gain recognized in current year		247			205
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	-605		$	-819
	Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	-4,824		$	-4,410
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	Net periodic pension cost associated with the Swiss Plan during the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012, and December 30, 2011 include the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Service cost	$	320		$	301		$	414
	Interest cost		101			116			127
	Expected return on plan assets		-96			-100			-101
	Actuarial loss recognized in current year		55			54			97
	Prior service loss recognized in current year		—			—			—
	Transition obligation recognized in current year		—			—			—
	Amendments		—			—			—
	Net periodic pension cost	$	380		$	371		$	537
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	Changes in other comprehensive loss, net of tax, associated with the Swiss Plan in the year ended January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 include the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Current year actuarial gain on plan assets, net of tax	$	37		$	50
	Current year actuarial (loss) gain on benefit obligation, net of tax		135			-101
	Actuarial gain recorded in current year, net of tax		46			42
	Prior service cost		—			—
	Change in other comprehensive loss	$	218		$	-9
Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]	'
	Net periodic pension cost and projected and accumulated pension obligation for the Company’s Swiss Plan were calculated on January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 using the following assumptions:
		2013				2012
	Discount rate		2.5	%			2	%
	Salary increases		2	%			2	%
	Expected return on plan assets		3	%			3	%
	Expected average remaining working lives in years		10.5				10.3
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated future benefit payments for the Swiss Plan are as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	2014	$	54
	2015		54
	2016		57
	2017		60
	2018		64
	2019 – 2023		386
	Total	$	675
Japan Plan [Member]	'
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
	The funded status of the benefit plan at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 is as follows:
		2013			2012
	Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
	Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	1,188		$	1,108
	Service cost		158			185
	Interest cost		8			13
	Actuarial loss		47			63
	Benefits paid		-123			-65
	Foreign exchange adjustment		-229			-116
	Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	1,049		$	1,188
	Changes in Plan Assets:
	Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	$	—		$	—
	Actual return on plan assets		—			—
	Employer contributions		—			—
	Benefits paid		—			—
	Distribution of plan assets		—			—
	Foreign exchange adjustment		—			—
	Plan assets at fair value, end of period	$	—		$	—
	Net Amount Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Underfunded, end of period	$	-1,049		$	-1,188
	Other long term liabilities	$	-1,049		$	-1,188
	Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:
	Transition obligation	$	130		$	117
	Actuarial gain		8			99
	Prior service cost		27			28
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	165		$	244
	Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	-857		$	-972
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	Net periodic pension cost associated with the Japan Plan for the years ended January 3, 2014, December 28, 2012 and, December 30, 2011 includes the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012			2011
	Service cost	$	148		$	185		$	174
	Interest cost		8			13			6
	Net amortization of transition obligation		12			16			16
	Actuarial loss		-31			-58			-117
	Prior service cost		-1			-1			-1
	Net periodic pension cost	$	136		$	155		$	78
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	Changes in other comprehensive income, net of tax, associated with the Japan Plan for the years ended January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 include the following components (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Amortization of net transition obligation	$	12		$	16
	Amortization of actuarial loss		-47			-62
	Actuarial loss recorded in current year		-153			-80
	Amortization prior service cost		-1			-1
	Change in other comprehensive income	$	-189		$	-127
Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]	'
	Net periodic pension cost and projected and accumulated pension obligation for the Company’s Japan Plan were calculated on January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 using the following assumptions:
		2013				2012
	Discount rate		0.9	%			0.8	%
	Salary increases		4.7	%			3	%
	Expected return on plan assets		N/A				N/A
	Expected average remaining working lives in years		7.48				8.88
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated future benefit payments for the Japan Plan are as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	2014	$	45
	2015		58
	2016		75
	2017		120
	2018		72
	2019 – 2023		390
	Total	$	760

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'
Schedule Of Compensation Cost [Table Text Block]	'
	Stock-based compensation expense is set forth below (in thousands):
			Fiscal Year Ended
			January 3,			December 28,			December 30,
			2014			2012			2011
	Employee stock options		$	2,683		$	2,595		$	1,361
	Restricted stock			999			590			466
	Restricted stock units			589			—			—
	Consultant compensation			218			23			87
	Total		$	4,489		$	3,208		$	1,914
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
	The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Following are the weighted-average assumptions used with the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value estimates of options granted:
			Fiscal Year Ended
			January 3,				December 28,				December 30,
			2014				2012				2011
	Expected dividend yield			0	%			0	%			0	%
	Expected volatility			71	%			79	%			77	%
	Risk-free interest rate			0.73	%			0.82	%			1.82	%
	Expected term (in years)			4.12				5.21				5.49
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of option activity under the Plan as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
	Options			Shares			Weighted-			Weighted-			Aggregate
				(000’s)			Average			Average			Intrinsic
							Exercise			Remaining			Value
							Price			Contractual			(000’s)
										Term
	Outstanding at December 28, 2012			3,376		$	5.89
	Granted			603			6.77
	Exercised			-645			5.1
	Forfeited or expired			-35			8.53
	Outstanding at January 3, 2014			3,299		$	6.17			6.27		$	32,745
	Exercisable at January 3, 2014			2,168		$	5.3			5.04			23,405
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]	'
	The fair value of the warrants was estimated on the issuance date, June 1, 2009, using a Black-Scholes option valuation model applying the assumptions noted in the following table:
			As of
			June 1, 2009
	Common stock price per share		$	1.01
	Number of warrants			700,000
	Expected dividends			0	%
	Expected volatility			74.4	%
	Risk-free rate			3.28	%
	Life (in years)			6
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at January 3, 2014 (in thousands, except per share data):
	Range of Exercise Prices			Number				Options		Weighted-		Number			Weighted-
				Outstanding at				Outstanding		Average		Exercisable at			Average
				January 3,				Weighted-Average		Exercise		January 3,			Exercise
				2014				Remaining		Price		2014			Price
								Contractual Life
	$	0.95				29		5.24 Years		$	0.95			29	$	0.95
	$	1.56 to $2.30				320		4.30 Years		$	2.19			320	$	2.19
	$	2.45 to $3.60				177		5.48 Years		$	3.29			177	$	3.29
	$	3.75 to $5.29				506		3.16 Years		$	4.22			497	$	4.2
	$	5.34 to $7.32				1,457		6.96 Years		$	5.71			817	$	5.89
	$	7.50 to $13.34				810		7.94 Years		$	10.61			328	$	10
						3,299		6.27 Years		$	6.17			2,168	$	5.3
Schedule Of Warrant Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of warrants to purchase Company stock issued to Broadwood as discussed in Note 9 as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
	Warrants		Shares			Weighted-			Weighted-			Aggregate
			(000’s)			Average			Average			Intrinsic
						Exercise			Remaining			Value
						Price			Contractual			(000’s)
									Term
	Outstanding at December 28, 2012			1,470		$	4.1
	Granted			—			—
	Exercised			700			4
	Forfeited or expired			70			6
	Outstanding at January 3, 2014			700		$	4			1.41		$	8,470
	Exercisable at January 3, 2014			700		$	4			1.41		$	8,470
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of restricted stock as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
	Restricted Stock		Shares				Weighted
			(000’s)				Average
							Grant-Date
							Fair Value
							per Share
	Outstanding at December 28, 2012			205			$	8.48
	Granted			154				6.58
	Forfeited			—				—
	Vested			-18				9.9
	Outstanding at January 3, 2014			341			$	7.55
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of restricted stock units as of January 3, 2014 is presented below:
			Units				Weighted
			(000’s)				Average
							Grant-Date
							Fair Value
							per Share
	Outstanding at December 28, 2012			—			$	—
	Granted			135				5.34
	Forfeited			—				—
	Vested			—				—
	Outstanding at January 3, 2014			135			$	5.34

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Future Minimum Payments For Leases [Table Text Block]	'
	Estimated future minimum lease payments under leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of January 3, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year	Operating		Capital
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2,058	$	303
	2015		1,817		142
	2016		1,715		6
	2017		1,731		—
	2018		257		—
	Thereafter		429		—
	Total minimum lease payments	$	8,007	$	451
	Less amounts representing interest		—		22
		$	8,007	$	429
Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company had the following assets under capital lease at January 3, 2014 and December 28, 2012 (in thousands):
		2013		2012
	Machinery and equipment	$	3,922	$	3,923
	Furniture and fixtures		611		946
	Leasehold improvements		155		155
			4,688		5,024
	Less accumulated depreciation		3,984		3,576
		$	704	$	1,448

Supplemental_Disclosure_of_Cas1

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company’s non-cash investing and financing activities were as follows (in thousands):
	Non-cash investing and financing activities:	2013		2012		2011
	Assets obtained by capital lease	$	—	$	527	$	331
	Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable	$	881	$	—	$	—

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Income_L1

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (in thousands except per share amounts):
		2013			2012		2011
	Numerator:
	Net income (loss)	$	398		$	-1,763	$	1,348
	Denominator:
	Weighted average common shares and denominator
	for basic calculation:
	Weighted average common shares outstanding		37,017			36,433		35,578
	Less: Unvested restricted stock		-311			-180		-144
	Denominator for basic calculation		36,706			36,253		35,434
	Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive
	common stock:
	Stock options		1,235			—		859
	Unvested restricted stock		177			—		—
	Restricted stock units		75			—		—
	Warrants		414			—		585
	Denominator for diluted calculation		38,607			36,253		36,878
	Net income (loss) per share – basic	$	0.01		$	-0.05	$	0.04
	Net income (loss) per share - diluted	$	0.01		$	-0.05	$	0.04
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table sets forth (in thousands) the weighted average number of options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock and restricted stock which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts because the effects would be anti-dilutive.
		2013		2012		2011
	Options	1,109		1,632		1,101
	Warrants	—		746		—
	Restricted stock	—		180		144
	Total	1,109		2,558		1,245

Geographic_and_Product_Data_Ta

Geographic and Product Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]	'
	The composition of the Company’s sales to unaffiliated customers is set forth below (in thousands):
	Net sales to unaffiliated customers	2013		2012		2011
	United States	$	12,851	$	12,427	$	13,852
	Japan		17,666		16,692		15,690
	Korea		7,743		6,713		8,142
	China		8,618		8,406		6,354
	Spain		4,867		—		—
	Others*		20,470		19,545		18,727
	Total	$	72,215	$	63,783	$	62,765
	*No other location individually exceeds 5% of total sales.
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company’s principal products are IOLs used in cataract surgery and ICLs used in refractive surgery.   The composition of the Company’s net sales by product line is as follows (in thousands):
	Net sales by product line	2013		2012			2011
	ICLs	$	44,128	$	35,080	$	32,072
	IOLs		24,153		25,971		27,547
	Other surgical products		3,934		2,732		3,146
	Total	$	72,215	$	63,783	$	62,765
Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]	'
	The composition of the Company’s long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, between those in the United States, Switzerland, and Japan is set forth below (in thousands):
	Long-lived assets	2013		2012
	U.S.	$	6,096	$	3,052
	Switzerland		849		984
	Japan		460		1,403
	Total	$	7,405	$	5,439

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud1

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]	'
	Summary unaudited quarterly financial data from continuing operations for fiscal 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands except per share data):
	January 3, 2014	1st Qtr.		2nd Qtr.		3rd Qtr.		4th Qtr.
	Net sales	$	18,001		18,164		17,106		18,944
	Gross profit		12,654		12,620		12,059		12,976
	Net income (loss)		471		278		525		-876
	Net income (loss) per share – basic		0.01		0.01		0.01		-0.02
	Net income (loss) per share – diluted		0.01		0.01		0.01		-0.02
	December 28, 2012	1st Qtr.		2nd Qtr.		3rd Qtr.		4th Qtr.
	Net sales	$	15,509	$	15,942	$	15,866	$	16,466
	Gross profit		10,901		11,045		11,176		11,168
	Net income (loss)		232		-491		-90		-1,414
	Net income (loss) per share – basic		0.01		-0.01		0		-0.04
	Net income (loss) per share – diluted		0.01		-0.01		0		-0.04

Manufacturing_Consolidation_Pr1

Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of the activity for these initiatives is presented below as of January 3, 2014 (in thousands):
		Termination Benefits		Other Associated Costs		Total
	Liability at December 28, 2012	$	504	$	293	$	797
	Costs incurred and charged to expense		481		1,761		2,242
	Cash payments		-254		-2,026		-2,280
	Liability at January 3, 2014	$	731	$	28	$	759
	Total costs incurred to date	$	1,381	$	4,558	$	5,939
	Total costs expected	$	1,592	$	4,608	$	6,200
	Total costs remaining	$	211	$	50	$	261

Organization_and_Description_o3

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Leasehold Improvements Description	'Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the associated leases.
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'7 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'3 years
Computer Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Computer Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'2 years

Organization_and_Description_o4

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance, at Begining	$1,580	$2,405	$2,100
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-707	-827	395
Tax effect	-591	2	-90
Balance, at Ending	282	1,580	2,405
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance, at Begining	2,106	2,795	2,584
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-861	-689	211
Tax effect	-466	0	0
Balance, at Ending	779	2,106	2,795
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Japan [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance, at Begining	296	423	642
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-126	-127	-219
Tax effect	-63	0	0
Balance, at Ending	107	296	423
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | SWITZERLAND	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance, at Begining	-822	-813	-1,126
Other comprehensive income (loss)	280	-11	403
Tax effect	-62	2	-90
Balance, at Ending	($604)	($822)	($813)

Organization_and_Description_o5

Organization and Description of Business and Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total	($1,327,000)	($689,000)	$211,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	39,000	111,000	86,000
Goodwill	1,786,000	1,786,000	'
Advertising Expense	$2,100,000	$1,810,000	$1,306,000
Warrant Issued Under Agreement	1.4	'	'
Sales [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk, Percentage	13.00%	11.00%	11.00%
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%	10.00%	'
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'10 years	'	'
Patents And Licences [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'20 years	'	'
Patents And Licences [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'3 years	'	'
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'10 years	'	'
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Organization And Description Of Business And Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'3 years	'	'

Accounts_Receivable_Trade_Net_1

Accounts Receivable Trade, Net (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Gross	$12,180	$9,859
Less allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	1,449	1,316
Accounts Receivable, Net	10,731	8,543
Domestic [Member]	'	'
Accounts Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Gross	2,135	1,222
Foreign [Member]	'	'
Accounts Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts Receivable, Gross	$10,045	$8,637

Inventories_Net_Details

Inventories, Net (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Public Utilities, Inventory [Line Items]	'	'
Raw materials and purchased parts	$1,367	$1,946
Work-in-process	913	1,318
Finished goods	11,029	8,945
Inventory, Gross	13,309	12,209
Less inventory reserves	795	536
Inventory, Net	$12,514	$11,673

Prepaids_Deposits_and_Other_Cu2

Prepaids, Deposits, and Other Current Assets (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current [Line Items]	'	'
Prepaids and deposits	$2,157	$1,672
Value added tax (VAT) receivable	618	307
Deferred charge for foreign profits	362	0
Other current assets	366	204
Prepaid Expenses Deposits and Other Assets Current	$3,503	$2,183

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Machinery and equipment	$16,225	$14,734
Furniture and fixtures	4,837	3,483
Leasehold improvements	6,552	5,281
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	27,614	23,498
Less accumulated depreciation	20,209	18,059
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	$7,405	$5,439

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D1

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Depreciation, Total	$1,711	$1,309	$1,469

Intangible_Assets_Net_Details

Intangible Assets, Net (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Amortized intangible assets:	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	$13,074	$13,787
Amortizable intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	-11,694	-11,645
Amortizable intangible assets, Net	1,380	2,142
Patents and Licenses [Member]	'	'
Amortized intangible assets:	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	10,637	10,786
Amortizable intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	-10,057	-9,875
Amortizable intangible assets, Net	580	911
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'
Amortized intangible assets:	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	1,490	1,835
Amortizable intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	-894	-917
Amortizable intangible assets, Net	596	918
Developed technology [Member]	'	'
Amortized intangible assets:	'	'
Amortizable intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	947	1,166
Amortizable intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	-743	-853
Amortizable intangible assets, Net	$204	$313

Intangible_Assets_Net_Details_

Intangible Assets, Net (Details 1) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
2014	$374
2015	241
2016	239
2017	235
2018	36
Thereafter	255
Total	$1,380

Intangible_Assets_Net_Details_1

Intangible Assets, Net (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amortization Of Intangible Assets	$440	$652	$797

Other_Current_Liabilities_Deta

Other Current Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014		Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Liabilities, Current [Line Items]	'		'
Accrued salaries and wages	$1,630		$1,950
Accrued bonuses	935		500
Accrued severance	731		499
Accrued insurance	551		515
Accrued commissions	528		107
Accrued income taxes	485		451
Accrued audit expenses	328		396
Customer credit balances	153		324
Other	1,031	[1]	960	[1]
Other Liabilities, Current	$6,372		$5,702
[1]	No item in “Other” above exceeds 5% of total other current liabilities.

Other_Current_Liabilities_Deta1

Other Current Liabilities (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Other Liabilities, Current [Line Items]	'
Percentage Of Other Current Liabilities	5.00%

Liabilities_Details

Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'
Asset retirement obligation at beginning of the year	$707	$577
Increase (decrease) in estimated liabilities	-221	169
Liabilities settled	-206	0
Accretion expense	10	15
Impact of changes in the Japanese Yen	-133	-54
Asset retirement obligation at end of the year	$157	$707

Liabilities_Details_Textual

Liabilities (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 28, 2012
	USD ($)	CHF	JPY (¥)	USD ($)	JPY (¥)
Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	'	'	'	'	¥ 500,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description	'(approximately 1.475% as ofJanuary 3, 2014) and may be renewed annually (the current line expires on April 4, 2014).	'(approximately 1.475% as ofJanuary 3, 2014) and may be renewed annually (the current line expires on April 4, 2014).	'(approximately 1.475% as ofJanuary 3, 2014) and may be renewed annually (the current line expires on April 4, 2014).	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	4,800,000	'	500,000,000	5,800,000	'
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	$1,100,000	1,000,000	'	'	'
Interest Rate Increase In Case Of Default	14.00%	14.00%	14.00%	'	'
Percentage Of Commission On Outstanding Notes Payable	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%	'	'
Additional Discount On Loan Description	'The fair value of the warrants was treated as an additional discount on the loan and was amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the loan (which approximates an effective interest rate of 32% per annum, assuming the 20% cash interest rate is maintained throughout the life of the Note).	'The fair value of the warrants was treated as an additional discount on the loan and was amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the loan (which approximates an effective interest rate of 32% per annum, assuming the 20% cash interest rate is maintained throughout the life of the Note).	'The fair value of the warrants was treated as an additional discount on the loan and was amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the loan (which approximates an effective interest rate of 32% per annum, assuming the 20% cash interest rate is maintained throughout the life of the Note).	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Current tax provision:	'	'	'
U.S. federal (benefit)	($121)	$0	$0
State	12	11	13
Foreign	721	1,125	1,012
Total current provision	612	1,136	1,025
Deferred tax provision:	'	'	'
U.S. federal and state	0	0	0
Foreign provision	104	108	331
Total deferred provision	104	108	331
Provision for income taxes	$716	$1,244	$1,356

Income_Taxes_Details_1

Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'
Computed provision for taxes based on income at statutory rate	34.00%	34.00%	34.00%
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:	'	'	'
Permanent differences	3.20%	-7.90%	1.40%
State minimum taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	0.70%	-1.40%	0.30%
Stock options	0.00%	-56.00%	0.00%
State tax benefit	6.40%	9.20%	-4.30%
Tax rate difference due to foreign statutory rate	43.70%	-43.80%	-19.70%
Foreign tax detriment (benefit)	0.00%	3.10%	11.60%
Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested	-7.70%	-223.40%	29.10%
Foreign dividend withholding	12.50%	-22.10%	5.50%
Expiration of charitable contribution carryover	0.20%	-16.10%	0.00%
Reserve	-10.90%	0.00%	0.00%
Other	6.40%	1.10%	1.40%
Valuation allowance	-24.20%	83.20%	-9.20%
Effective tax provision rate	64.30%	-240.10%	50.10%
Computed provision for taxes based on income at statutory rate	$379	($176)	$919
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:	'	'	'
Permanent differences	35	41	37
State minimum taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	8	8	9
Stock options	0	290	0
State tax benefit	71	-48	-116
Tax rate difference due to foreign statutory rate	487	227	-529
Foreign tax detriment (benefit)	0	-16	312
Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested	-86	1,158	788
Foreign dividend withholding	140	114	147
Expiration of charitable contribution carryover	2	83	0
Reserve	-121	0	0
Other	71	-6	37
Valuation allowance	-270	-431	-248
Provision for income taxes	$716	$1,244	$1,356

Income_Taxes_Details_2

Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current deferred tax assets (liabilities):	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$21	$89
Inventories	11	190
Accrued vacation	375	534
State taxes	0	3
Other	-137	-111
Valuation allowance	-741	-1,331
Accrued other expenses	105	187
Total current deferred tax liabilities	-366	-439
Non-current deferred tax assets (liabilities):	'	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	50,409	51,533
Stock-based compensation	2,212	1,602
Business, foreign and AMT credit carryforwards	921	844
Capitalized R&D	525	605
Contributions	57	58
Pensions	731	877
Depreciation and amortization	360	202
Foreign tax withholding	-1,129	-885
Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested	-4,992	-5,783
Other	-40	11
Valuation allowance	-50,082	-49,762
Total non-current deferred tax liabilities	($1,028)	($698)

Income_Taxes_Details_3

Income Taxes (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
US Federal [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2012
US Federal [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2010
California [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2012
California [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2009
SWITZERLAND | Maximum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2012
SWITZERLAND | Minimum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2011
Japan [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2012
Japan [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination	'2008

Income_Taxes_Details_4

Income Taxes (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'
Domestic	($2,131)	($2,967)	($2,145)
Foreign	3,245	2,448	4,849
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest, Total	$1,114	($519)	$2,704

Income_Taxes_Details_Textual

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2013	Sep. 27, 2013	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 28, 2012	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014
						SWITZERLAND	SWITZERLAND	Japan [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	'	'	'	'	$1,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	'	'	121,700,000	'	'	'	'	20,000	'	'
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	433,000	433,000	-1,008,000	312,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Explanation of Change	'	'	'The valuation allowance as of December 28, 2012 of $1.0 million was reduced to $433,000 primarily due to the utilization of STAAR Japans net operating loss carryover during the nine months ended September 27, 2013.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current, Total	'	'	373,000	'	0	'	'	'	'	'
Taxes Payable, Total	'	'	655,000	'	1,034,000	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign	'	'	121,700,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, State and Local	'	'	70,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance, Total	'	'	71,000	116,000	48,000	'	'	'	'	'
Increase Decrease In Foreign Deferred Tax Asset	'	'	-630,000	'	16,000	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,137,000	289,000	'	'
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	'	'	'	'	'	1,683,000	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Limitations on Use	'	'	'The California net operating loss carryfowards expire in varying amounts between 2014 and 2033 and, approximately $14.6 million of those net operating loss carryforwards, will expire over the next three years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforward Expiration Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'2014	'2033
Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards State And Local Expire Within Three Years	'	'	14,600,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized, Amount of Unrecognized Deferred Tax Liability, Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	'	'	'	'	'	$1,129,000	$885,000	'	'	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Change in Plan Assets:	'	'	'
Employer contributions	$270,000	$284,000	$150,000
Swiss Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:	'	'	'
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	4,853	4,710	'
Service Cost	320	301	414
Interest cost	101	116	127
Participant contributions	239	234	'
Benefits paid	-157	-639	'
Actuarial (gain) loss on obligation	-173	131	'
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	5,183	4,853	4,710
Change in Plan Assets:	'	'	'
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	3,053	3,058	'
Actual return on plan assets (including foreign currency impact)	144	166	'
Employer contributions	239	234	'
Participant contributions	239	234	'
Benefits paid	-158	-639	'
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	3,517	3,053	3,058
Funded status (pension liability), end of year	-1,666	-1,800	'
Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of tax:	'	'	'
Actuarial loss on plan assets	-521	-558	'
Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Gain Loss Benefit Obligation	-331	-466	'
Actuarial gain recognized in current year	247	205	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-605	-819	'
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	-4,824	-4,410	'
Japan Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:	'	'	'
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	1,188	1,108	'
Service Cost	158	185	174
Interest cost	8	13	6
Benefits paid	-123	-65	'
Actuarial (gain) loss on obligation	47	63	'
Foreign exchange adjustment	-229	-116	'
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	1,049	1,188	1,108
Change in Plan Assets:	'	'	'
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	0	0	'
Actual return on plan assets (including foreign currency impact)	0	0	'
Employer contributions	0	0	'
Benefits paid	0	0	'
Distribution of plan assets	0	0	'
Underfunded, end of year	-1,049	-1,188	'
Foreign exchange adjustment	0	0	'
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	'	0	0
Amount Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, net of tax:	'	'	'
Transition obligation	81	117	'
Actuarial gain recognized in current year	191	353	'
Prior service cost	17	28	'
Net loss	-184	-204	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	105	294	'
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	($857)	($972)	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details1

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Swiss Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	$320	$301	$414
Interest cost	101	116	127
Expected return on plan assets	-96	-100	-101
Actuarial loss recognized in current year	55	54	97
Prior service loss recognized in current year	0	0	0
Transition obligation recognized in current year	0	0	0
Amendments	0	0	0
Net periodic pension cost	380	371	537
Japan Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	158	185	174
Interest cost	8	13	6
Net amortization of transition obligation	12	16	16
Actuarial loss recognized in current year	-31	-58	-117
Defined Benefit Plan Prior Service Cost	-1	-1	-1
Net periodic pension cost	$146	$155	$78

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details2

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
Swiss Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Current year actuarial gain on plan assets, net of tax	$37	$50
Current year actuarial (loss) gain on benefit obligation, net of tax	135	-101
Actuarial gain recorded in current year, net of tax	46	42
Prior service cost	0	0
Change in other comprehensive loss	218	-9
Japan Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Amortization of net transition obligation	12	16
Amortization of actuarial loss	-47	-62
Actuarial gain recorded in current year, net of tax	-153	-80
Prior service cost	-1	-1
Change in other comprehensive loss	($189)	($127)

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details3

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
Swiss Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Discount rate	2.50%	2.00%
Salary increases	2.00%	2.00%
Expected return on plan assets	3.00%	3.00%
Expected average remaining working lives in years	'10 years 6 months	'10 years 3 months 18 days
Japan Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'
Discount rate	0.90%	0.80%
Salary increases	4.70%	3.00%
Expected return on plan assets	0.00%	0.00%
Expected average remaining working lives in years	'7 years 5 months 23 days	'8 years 10 months 17 days

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details4

Employee Benefit Plans (Details 5) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Swiss Plan [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'
2014	$54
2015	54
2016	57
2017	60
2018	64
2019 - 2023	386
Total	675
Japan Plan [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'
2014	45
2015	58
2016	75
2017	120
2018	72
2019 - 2023	390
Total	$760

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details5

Employee Benefit Plans (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions By Employer	$270,000,000	$284,000,000	$150,000,000
Description Related To The Benefit Based Under The Point System	'Each point earned is worth a fixed monetary value, 1,000 Yen per point, regardless of the level grade or zone of the employee. Gross benefits are calculated based on the cumulative number of points earned over the service period multiplied by 1,000 Yen. The mandatory retirement age limit is 60 years old.	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit On Partial Settlement	9,000	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan Employees Eligible Payroll	17,500	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan Description	'The Company makes a contribution of 50% of the employee’s contribution up to the first 6% of the employee’s compensation.	'	'
Future Estimated Cash Contribution To Swiss Plan	286,000	'	'
Fifty Years Old [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan Employees Eligible Payroll	5,500	'	'
Swiss Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions By Employer	239,000	234,000	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	2.50%	2.00%	'
Assumed Pension Benefit Maturity	'10 to 15 years	'	'
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.00%	2.00%	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Total	1,666,000	1,800,000	'
Swiss Plan [Member] | Pension Costs [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	24,000	'	'
Japan Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions By Employer	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	0.90%	0.80%	'
Assumed Pension Benefit Maturity	'10 to 20 years	'	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Total	$1,049,000	$1,188,000	'

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	$4,489	$3,208	$1,914
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	2,683	2,595	1,361
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	999	590	466
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	589	0	0
Consultants Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	$218	$23	$87

Stockholders_Equity_Details_1

Stockholders' Equity (Details 1) (Employee Stock Option [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	71.00%	79.00%	77.00%
Risk-free interest rate	0.73%	0.82%	1.82%
Expected term (in years)	'4 years 1 month 13 days	'5 years 2 months 16 days	'5 years 5 months 26 days

Stockholders_Equity_Details_2

Stockholders' Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Options, Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Shares	3,376
Options, Granted, shares	603
Options, Exercised, Shares	-645
Options, Forfeited or expired, Shares	-35
Outstanding at January 3, 2014	3,299
Exercisable at January 3, 2014	2,168
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Outstanding at December 28, 2012,	$5.89
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Granted	$6.77
Weighted Average Exercise Price,Options, Exercised	$5.10
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options, Forfeited and Expired	$8.53
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options Outstanding at January 3, 2014	$6.17
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable at January 3, 2014	$5.30
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Options, Outstanding at January 3, 2014	'6 years 3 months 7 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Options, Exercisable at January 3, 2014	'5 years 14 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options, Outstanding at January 3, 2014	$32,745
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options, Exercisable at January 3, 2014	$23,405

Stockholders_Equity_Details_3

Stockholders' Equity (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	3,299	3,376
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'6 years 3 months 7 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$6.17	$5.89
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	2,168	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$5.30	'
Range One [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$0.95	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	29	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'5 years 2 months 26 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$0.95	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	29	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$0.95	'
Range Two [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$1.56	'
Upper Range of Exercise Prices	$2.30	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	320	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'4 years 3 months 18 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$2.19	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	320	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$2.19	'
Range Three [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$2.45	'
Upper Range of Exercise Prices	$3.60	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	177	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'5 years 5 months 23 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$3.29	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	177	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$3.29	'
Range Four [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$3.75	'
Upper Range of Exercise Prices	$5.29	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	506	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'3 years 1 month 28 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4.22	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	497	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4.20	'
Range Five [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$5.34	'
Upper Range of Exercise Prices	$7.32	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	1,457	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'6 years 11 months 16 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$5.71	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	817	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$5.89	'
Range Six [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Lower Range of Exercise Prices	$7.50	'
Upper Range of Exercise Prices	$13.34	'
Number Outstanding at January 3, 2014	810	'
Options Outstanding Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life	'7 years 11 months 8 days	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$10.61	'
Number Exercisable at January 3, 2014	328	'
Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$10	'

Stockholders_Equity_Details_4

Stockholders' Equity (Details 4) (Warrant [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2009
Warrant [Member]	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Common stock price per share	$1.01
Number of warrants	700,000
Expected dividends	0.00%
Expected volatility	74.40%
Risk-free rate	3.28%
Life (in years)	'6 years

Stockholders_Equity_Details_5

Stockholders' Equity (Details 5) (Warrant [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014
Warrant [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Shares	1,470
Warrants, Granted, Shares	0
Warrants, Exercised, Shares	-700
Warrants, Forfeited or expired, Shares	-70
Outstanding at January 3, 2014, Shares	700
Warrants, Exercisable at January 3, 2014, Shares	700
Warrants, Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4.10
Warrants, Granted, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$0
Warrants, Exercised, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4
Warrants, Forfeited or expired, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$6
Warrants, Outstanding at January 3, 2014, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4
Warrants, Exercisable at January 3, 2014, Weighted - Average Exercise Price	$4
Warrants, Outstanding at January 3, 2014, Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Term	'1 year 4 months 28 days
Warrants, Exercisable at January 3, 2014, Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Term	'1 year 4 months 28 days
Warrants, Exercisable at January 3, 2014, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$8,470
Warrants, Exercisable at January 3, 2014, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$8,470

Stockholders_Equity_Details_6

Stockholders' Equity (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Shares	205
Granted, Shares	154
Forfeited, Shares	0
Vested, Shares	-18
Outstanding at January 3, 2014, Shares	341
Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$8.48
Granted, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$6.58
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$0
Vested, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$9.90
Outstanding at January 3, 2014 Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$7.55
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Shares	0
Granted, Shares	135
Forfeited, Shares	0
Vested, Shares	0
Outstanding at January 3, 2014, Shares	135
Outstanding at December 28, 2012, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$0
Granted, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$5.34
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$0
Vested, Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$0
Outstanding at January 3, 2014 Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share	$5.34

Stockholders_Equity_Details_Te

Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2007	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014	Jan. 03, 2014	13-May-13	Jan. 03, 2014
				Broadwood [Member]	Broadwood [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member]	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	2003 Omnibus Plan [Member]	Non Vested Share Based Compensation [Member]
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	'1 year 7 months 20 days	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated Forfeiture Rate	9.92%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Compensation Cost Capitalized	$232,000	$150,000	$121,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,250,000	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$3.51	$6.65	$3.85	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value	3,084,000	1,830,000	1,049,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value	3,894,000	1,240,000	2,533,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized Stock Based Compensation Expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,500,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	153,600	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	'	'	'	'	'	1,363,000	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	'10 years	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Warrants Issued	'	'	'	700,000	700,000	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Of Warrants	'	'	'	$4	$4	'	'	'	'	'
Warrants Expiration Term	'	'	'	'6 years	'6 years	'	'	'	'	'
Common Stock Issued Upon Exercise Of Warrants	'	'	'	'	485,456	'	'	'	'	'
Common Stock Withheld	'	'	'	'	214,544	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity, Total	'	'	'	'	$2,800,000	'	'	'	'	'
Number Of Penalty Warrants To Be Issued	'	'	'	30,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	'	'	'	'	'	'	154,000	135,000	'	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
2014, Operating Leases	$2,058
2015, Operating Leases	1,817
2016, Operating Leases	1,715
2017, Operating Leases	1,731
2018, Operating Leases	257
Thereafter,Operating Leases	429
Operating Leases, Total Minimum Lease Payments	8,007
Operating Leases, Less amounts representing Interest	0
Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Present Value Of Net Minimum Payments	8,007
2014,Capital Leases	303
2015,Capital Leases	142
2016,Capital Leases	6
2017,Capital Leases	0
2018,Capital Leases	0
Thereafter,Capital Leases	0
Capital Leases, Total minimum lease payments	451
Capital Leases, Less amounts representing Interest	22
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments, Total	$429

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Details 1) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	$4,688	$5,024
Less Accumulated Depreciation	3,984	3,576
Capital Leases, Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Net, Total	704	1,448
Machinery and Equipment [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	3,922	3,923
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	611	946
Leasehold Improvements [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	$155	$155

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments for Rent	$1,500,000	$1,900,000	$1,800,000
Depreciation For Assets Held Under Capital Lease	566,000	522,000	615,000
Finished Goods Inventory [Member]	'	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	1,064,000	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	$800,000	'	'

Related_Party_Transactions_Det

Related Party Transactions (Details Textual) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Due from Related Parties	$34,000	$11,000

Supplemental_Disclosure_of_Cas2

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'	'
Assets obtained by capital lease	$0	$527	$331
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable	$881	$0	$0

Supplemental_Disclosure_of_Cas3

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Interest Paid, Total	$153,000	$270,000	$471,000
Income Taxes Paid, Net, Total	$1,534,000	$241,000	$649,000

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Income_L2

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Sep. 27, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Numerator:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($876)	$525	$278	$471	($1,414)	($90)	($491)	$232	$398	($1,763)	$1,348
Denominator:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	37,017	36,433	35,578
Less: Unvested restricted stock	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-311	-180	-144
Denominator for basic calculation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,706	36,253	35,434
Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive common stock:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Warrants	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	414	0	585
Denominator for diluted calculation	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	38,607	36,253	36,878
Net income (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share)	($0.02)	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	($0.04)	$0	($0.01)	$0.01	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04
Net income (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	($0.02)	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	($0.04)	$0	($0.01)	$0.01	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive common stock:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment, Total	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	177	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive common stock:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment, Total	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	75	0	0
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average effects of potentially dilutive common stock:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment, Total	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,235	0	859

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Income_L3

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details 1)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti - dilutive securities which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts (in shares)	1,109	2,558	1,245
Options [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti - dilutive securities which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts (in shares)	1,109	1,632	1,101
Warrant [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti - dilutive securities which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts (in shares)	0	746	0
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti - dilutive securities which were not included in the calculation of diluted per share amounts (in shares)	0	180	144

Geographic_and_Product_Data_De

Geographic and Product Data (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014		Dec. 28, 2012		Dec. 30, 2011
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	$72,215		$63,783		$62,765
United States [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	12,851		12,427		13,852
Japan [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	17,666		16,692		15,690
Korea [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	7,743		6,713		8,142
China [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	8,618		8,406		6,354
Spain [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	4,867		0		0
Others [Member]	'		'		'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net sales	$20,470	[1]	$19,545	[1]	$18,727	[1]
[1]	No other location individually exceeds 5% of total sales.

Geographic_and_Product_Data_De1

Geographic and Product Data (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	$72,215	$63,783	$62,765
Implantable Collamer Lenses [Member]	'	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	44,128	35,080	32,072
Intraocular Lenses [Member]	'	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	24,153	25,971	27,547
Other Surgical Products [Member]	'	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net sales	$3,934	$2,732	$3,146

Geographic_and_Product_Data_De2

Geographic and Product Data (Details 2) (USD $)	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	$7,405	$5,439
United States [Member]	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	6,096	3,052
Switzerland (Member)	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	849	984
Japan [Member]	'	'
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	$460	$1,403

Geographic_and_Product_Data_De3

Geographic and Product Data (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2014
Geographic and Product Data [Line Items]	'
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Description of Revenue from External Customers	'The Company markets and sells its products in approximately 60 countries and has manufacturing sites in the United States and Switzerland. Other than the United States, Japan, Korea, China, and Spain, the Company does not conduct business in any country in which its sales in that country exceed 5% of consolidated sales. Sales are attributed to countries based on location of customers.100% of the Company’s sales are generated from the ophthalmic surgical product segment and, therefore, the Company operates as one operating segment for financial reporting purposes.

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud2

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Sep. 27, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Net sales	$18,944	$17,106	$18,164	$18,001	$16,466	$15,866	$15,942	$15,509	'	'	'
Gross Profit	12,976	12,059	12,620	12,654	11,168	11,176	11,045	10,901	50,309	44,291	42,369
Net income (loss)	($876)	$525	$278	$471	($1,414)	($90)	($491)	$232	$398	($1,763)	$1,348
Net income (loss) per share - basic	($0.02)	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	($0.04)	$0	($0.01)	$0.01	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04
Net income (loss) per share - diluted	($0.02)	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	($0.04)	$0	($0.01)	$0.01	$0.01	($0.05)	$0.04

Manufacturing_Consolidation_Pr2

Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014
Schedule Of Restructuring Reserve By Type Of Cost [Line Items]	'
Liability at December 28, 2012	$797
Costs incurred and charged to expense	2,242
Cash payments	-2,280
Liability at January 3, 2014	759
Total costs incurred to date	5,939
Total costs expected	6,200
Total costs remaining	261
Termination Benefits [Member]	'
Schedule Of Restructuring Reserve By Type Of Cost [Line Items]	'
Liability at December 28, 2012	504
Costs incurred and charged to expense	481
Cash payments	-254
Liability at January 3, 2014	731
Total costs incurred to date	1,381
Total costs expected	1,592
Total costs remaining	211
Other Associated Costs [Member]	'
Schedule Of Restructuring Reserve By Type Of Cost [Line Items]	'
Liability at December 28, 2012	293
Costs incurred and charged to expense	1,761
Cash payments	-2,026
Liability at January 3, 2014	28
Total costs incurred to date	4,558
Total costs expected	4,608
Total costs remaining	$50

Manufacturing_Consolidation_Pr3

Manufacturing Consolidation Project and Tax Strategy (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014
Schedule Of Restructuring Reserve By Type Of Cost [Line Items]	'
Estimated Cost Of Project	$5.90
Cost Of Project	2.2
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$121.70

SCHEDULE_II_VALUATION_AND_QUAL1

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2014	Dec. 28, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Year	$52,409	$52,699	$53,112
Additions	1,007	255	195
Deductions	1,144	545	607
Balance at End of Year	52,272	52,409	52,699
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Year	1,316	1,128	1,423
Additions	263	255	195
Deductions	130	67	489
Balance at End of Year	1,449	1,316	1,128
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Year	51,093	51,571	51,689
Additions	744	0	0
Deductions	1,014	478	118
Balance at End of Year	$50,823	$51,093	$51,571