-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C7AxCzuWrzRWGwwkHHfAIp+KZ7oAY3yIVJBP1J7IwDKBRJjJgqn4I4sK7G449WJ1
 OAJE904httJdY3O5njJqnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-002805.txt : 20040115
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-002805.hdr.sgml : 20040115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040115132500
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-002805
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAUL THOMAS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276481

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11634
		FILM NUMBER:		04526838

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1914 STONESGATE STREET
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91361
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8054960455

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000718937
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPHTHALMIC GOODS [3851]
		IRS NUMBER:				953797439
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1911 WALKER AVE
		CITY:			MONROVIA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8183037902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1911 WALKER AVE
		CITY:			MONROVIA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91016
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd29191.xml
<DESCRIPTION>NEW OFFICER
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000718937</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STAA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276481</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAUL THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1911 WALKER AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONROVIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President - R &amp; D</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.99</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>Deborah Andrews as Attorney in Fact for Thomas R Paul</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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