Exhibit 99.1
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STAAR Surgical Signs Definitive Agreements to Sell 1,000,000 Shares of Common
Stock

Thursday June 12, 11:48 am ET

MONROVIA,  Calif., June 12 -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA - News) today
announced  that it has entered  into  definitive  agreements  to sell  1,000,000
shares of newly issued common stock at a purchase  price of $9.60 per share in a
private placement to institutional  investors. The offering is expected to close
within two business days.

The common stock to be issued in the private  placement has not been  registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and may not be offered or sold in
the U.S.  absent  registration  or an  applicable  exemption  from  registration
requirements.  STAAR  Surgical  does,  however,  intend  to file a  registration
statement covering the resale of the common stock within 30 days of the closing.

This release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor
shall there be any sale of the  company's  securities in any state in which such
offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior to their  registration  or
qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical  fact
are  forward-looking  statements,  including the statement  that the offering is
expected  to close  within two  business  days.  These  statements  are based on
expectations  and  assumptions  as of the  date of this  press  release  and are
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in the  forward-looking  statements.  The
risks and uncertainties  include the ability of the Company and the investors to
comply  with  certain  conditions  to  closing  as set  forth in the  definitive
agreements.  STAAR  Surgical  Company  assumes  no  obligation  to update  these
forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so.

For   further   information   please   contact:   Investors,    Douglas   Sherk,
1-415-659-2285,  or  Jennifer  Cohn,  1-415-659-2289,  or Media,  Sheryl  Seapy,
1-415-272-3323, all of EVC Group, for STAAR Surgical Company.