Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2021	Feb. 19, 2021	Jul. 03, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 01, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	STAAR SURGICAL CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000718937
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-01
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	STAA
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		46,564,866
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 2,821,465,125
Entity File Number	0-11634
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-3797439
Entity Address, Address Line One	25651 Atlantic Ocean Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Lake Forest
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	92630
City Area Code	626
Local Phone Number	303-7902
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Title of 12(b) Security	Common
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the close of the registrant’s last fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.