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	Jan. 03, 2014
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