FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
NORRIS BATTIN
nbattin@usa.net

        THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC., HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                  Plans New Contact Lens Product Introductions

IRVINE, Calif., March 19, 1999--At its annual meeting held yesterday in New York
City, stockholders of the Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE/PCX: COO) elected eight
directors, approved an increase in the number of authorized shares of common
stock to 40 million and ratified the appointment of KPMG, LLP as the Company's
auditors for fiscal 1999.

In his remarks to stockholders, A. Thomas Bender, chief executive officer, said
that Cooper had three major business objectives: to increase revenue and
earnings 20% per year for the next five years; to become the global leader in
the toric soft contact lens market within the next two years; and to grow the
CooperSurgical division from its current level of $30 million to $100 million in
five years through continued internal growth, including our recently introduced
new products, and selective acquisitions.

"I expect that revenue at CooperVision," said Bender, "can continue to achieve
15% to 20% growth per year over the next five years. Toric revenue growth should
continue to be strong as we close in on the leading market share position in the
U.S. During 1999 and 2000, we have scheduled over 30 separate new contact lens
product introductions in markets around the world and, as recently announced, we
plan to enter the Japanese market with both toric and spherical lenses this
July."

CooperVision's new product program has four major components. The first is to
complete the worldwide roll out of the existing CooperVision toric lens line--
first in Europe, then in Japan and Australia--during 1999. Second is the launch
of a new cast molded toric lens in the Frequency'r' line, beginning late 1999.
It will compete in the lower-priced, lower-featured segment of the toric market,
initially in Europe and North America, with Asian markets following in late
2000.

The third new product is Frequency'r' AB. This spherical lens features an
improved optical design that can improve visual acuity for many contact lens
patients who wear disposable lenses. Some myopic (nearsighted) wearers will
enjoy sharper, crispier vision. In addition, lens wearers with a small amount of






uncorrected astigmatism can experience improved visual acuity with Frequency AB
and may not need a more expensive toric lens. Initial marketing has begun in
Europe and will continue throughout 1999. A North American launch date has not
yet been set.

CooperVision's fourth new product, Frequency'r' UV, features an ultra-violet
light blocking agent in the lens material. It is currently available in many
smaller markets overseas and will be launched in the major European markets
during 1999.

Noting the Company's recent announcement that it had signed a definitive
agreement to sell its Hospital Group of America psychiatric services business to
Universal Health Care Systems, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), Bender said, "After the
closing, Cooper will be a pure medical device company competing in two
attractive markets, vision care and women's healthcare.

"We intend to use the proceeds either to repay debt or make other investments
that meet our hurdle rates. If we were to use the entire amount to reduce debt,
we would add $1.8 million in pretax profit to continuing operations going
forward or about $.08 per share to after tax earnings.

"During 1998," Bender concluded, "We consolidated our strategic direction into
one healthcare sector and simplified our financial reporting going forward. We
now state our earnings per share on an after tax basis, even though, because of
our NOLs, we will not use cash to pay federal taxes until 2002. Cooper should
now be easier to understand and more directly comparable to its peer companies,
and I am optimistic about improved visibility within the investment community."

Board of Directors and Officers

Cooper's stockholders re-elected Allan E. Rubenstein chairman. Dr. Rubenstein
is president of WorldCare Imaging, Inc., and a member of the faculty of the
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and the Mt. Sinai Neurofibromatosis Research and
Treatment Center.

The stockholders also elected to the board of directors: A. Thomas Bender,
president and chief executive officer of the Company; Michael H. Kalkstein, a
partner in the law firm of Graham & James, LLP; Moses Marx, general partner of
United Equities Company and president of Momar Corp; Donald Press, executive
vice president of Broadway Management Company, Inc., and principal in the firm
of Donald Press, P. C.; Steven Rosenberg, acting president and chief financial
officer of Cooper Life Sciences, Inc.; Robert S. Weiss, executive vice
president, treasurer and chief financial officer of the Company; and Stanley
Zinberg, M. D., director of practice activities for the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

After the stockholders' meeting, the board elected the officers of the Company:
A. Thomas Bender, president and chief executive officer; Robert S. Weiss,
executive vice president,






treasurer and chief financial officer, B. Norris Battin, vice president
investor relations and communications, Gregory A. Fryling, vice president
business development; Carol R. Kaufman, vice president of legal affairs,
secretary and chief administrative officer and Stephen C. Whiteford,
vice president and corporate controller.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this report not based on historical fact may be "forward-looking
statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
They include words like "may," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"continue" or similar terms and reflect Cooper's current analysis of existing
trends. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated due to:
major changes in business conditions and the economy, loss of key senior
management, major disruptions in the operations of Cooper's manufacturing
facilities or hospitals, new competitors or technologies, significant
disruptions caused by the failure of third parties to address the Year 2000
issue or by unforeseen delays in completing Cooper's Year 2000 compliance
program, acquisition integration costs, foreign currency exchange exposure
including the potential impact of the Euro, investments in research and
development and other start-up projects, dilution to earnings per share from
acquisitions or issuing stock, regulatory issues, significant environmental
clean-up costs above those currently accrued, costs of litigation and business
divestitures, and items listed in Cooper's SEC reports, including the section
titled "Business" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October
31, 1998.

The Cooper Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market
specialty healthcare products. CooperVision, Inc., headquartered in Irvine,
Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Huntington Beach, Calif., Rochester,
N.Y., Toronto, Canada and Hamble, England, markets a broad range of contact
lenses for the vision care market. CooperSurgical, Inc., headquartered in
Shelton, Conn., markets diagnostic and surgical instruments and accessories for
the gynecological market. Corporate offices are located in Irvine and
Pleasanton, Calif.

NOTE: A toll free interactive telephone system at 1-800-334-1986 provides
stock quotes, recent press releases and financial data. Cooper's Internet
address is www.coopercos.com.