Former President and COO of Advanced Medical Optics Brings Significant Industry Background to STAAR's Board

MONROVIA, Calif., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of implantable lenses and related ophthalmic products, today announced the unanimous appointment of Richard (Randy) A. Meier (49), the former president and chief operating officer of Advanced Medical Optics (AMO), to the Company's board of directors. Mr. Meier's appointment expands the STAAR Surgical board to seven directors, five of whom are independent.

Mr. Meier was the former president and chief operating officer of AMO, a global leader in ophthalmic products including intraocular lenses (IOLs) and laser vision correction with revenues of approximately $1.2 billion in 2008. Mr. Meier served in that position until the company was acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories in February of 2009. Mr. Meier joined AMO in 2002 and subsequently held various executive positions at AMO, including Chief Financial Officer, executive vice president of operations and president of all three divisions: Refractive, Cataract and Eye Care.

'Randy Meier brings to our board significant ophthalmology business acumen and he will provide our Company with considerable financial, strategic and operational insights as we continue to pursue opportunities focused on profitable growth,' said Don M. Bailey, chairman of the STAAR Surgical Board of Directors. 'Beyond his experience in the ophthalmic industry, Randy has a strong working knowledge of international markets as well as the capital markets and a proven track record of improving shareholder value.'

'During the past few years, I've observed STAAR Surgical's developments and believe the company has recently made strong progress,' Mr. Meier said. 'STAAR is a leader in the evolving refractive phakic lens market and has been consistently improving its operating performance in a very difficult economic environment. I believe the company is positioned to generate further progress and I look forward to assisting the Company's drive to sustainable profitable growth.'

Prior to joining AMO, Mr. Meier was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (formerly ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). Before joining Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Meier was a senior vice president with the investment banking firm of Schroder & Co. Inc. in New York from 1996 until joining Valeant Pharmaceuticals in 1998. Prior to Mr.