Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2021
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 13 — Commitments and Contingencies Asset Retirement Obligation The Company recorded certain Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”), in accordance with ASC 410-20 in connection with the Company’s obligation to return its Japan facility to its “original condition”, as defined in the lease agreement. The Company has recorded approximately $221,000 and $211,000, representing the fair value of the ARO liability obligation in noncurrent liabilities at January 1, 2021 and January 3, 2020, respectively. This lease expires in 2021 and the Company intends to renew the lease in 2021 under similar terms and conditions. Open Purchase Orders and Severance Payable As of January 1, 2021, there were open purchase orders of $8,446,000. Indemnification Agreements The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that may require the Company: (a) to indemnify them against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, except as prohibited by applicable law; (b) to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified; and (c) to make a good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance. The Company currently has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance through a third-party carrier. Also, in connection with the sale of products and entering into business relationships in the ordinary course of business, the Company may make representations affirming, among other things, that its products do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others and agrees to indemnify customers against third-party claims for such infringement as well as its negligence. The Company has not been required to make material payments under such provisions. Note 13 — Commitments and Contingencies (Continued) Tax Filings The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately provided for taxes; however, final assessments, if any, could be significantly different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Employment Agreements The Company’s Chief Executive Officer entered into an employment agreement with the Company, effective March 1, 2015. She and certain officers have as provisions of their agreements certain rights, including continuance of cash compensation and benefits, upon a “change in control,” which may include an acquisition of substantially all its assets, or termination “without cause or for good reason” as defined in the employment agreements. Litigation and Claims On August 19, 2020, a putative federal securities class action, Alwazaan v. STAAR Surgical Co., et al., was filed against the Company and certain of its executives in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. On September 1, 2020, a substantially similar federal securities class action, Zhang v. STAAR Surgical Co., et al., was filed against the Company and the same executives in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. On September 11, 2020, the court consolidated the two actions under the caption In re STAAR Surgical Co. Securities Litigation. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the Company made material misstatements regarding its sales in China, its marketing spend, and its R&D expenses. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees. On October 29, 2020, the court appointed a lead plaintiff. On January 15, 2021, the lead plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit, which dismissed the lead plaintiff's claims with prejudice as to him, and without prejudice as to any absent putative class members. On December 31, 2020, Amir Sitabkhan filed a stockholder derivative complaint against certain members of our Board of Directors, Caren Mason, Stephen C. Farrell, John C. Moore, and Louis E. Silverman, as well as current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Patrick F. Williams and former CFO Deborah Andrews in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiff alleges breaches of fiduciary duties by, among other things, allowing STAAR to disseminate misleading statements to investors regarding its sales and growth in China and overstating marketing and research and development expenses, failing to properly oversee the Company, and unjust enrichment. The complaint seeks damages, restitution and governance reforms, attorneys’ fees, and costs. On January 21, 2021, the court granted the parties’ stipulation extending the time for defendants to respond to the complaint to March 8 2021. Although the ultimate outcome of this action cannot be determined with certainty, the Company believes that the allegations in the Complaint are without merit.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2021

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Note 13 — Commitments and Contingencies

Asset Retirement Obligation

The Company recorded certain Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”), in accordance with ASC 410-20 in connection with the Company’s obligation to return its Japan facility to its “original condition”, as defined in the lease agreement. The Company has recorded approximately $221,000 and $211,000, representing the fair value of the ARO liability obligation in noncurrent liabilities at January 1, 2021 and January 3, 2020, respectively. This lease expires in 2021 and the Company intends to renew the lease in 2021 under similar terms and conditions.

Open Purchase Orders and Severance Payable

As of January 1, 2021, there were open purchase orders of $8,446,000.

Indemnification Agreements

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that may require the Company: (a) to indemnify them against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, except as prohibited by applicable law; (b) to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified; and (c) to make a good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance. The Company currently has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance through a third-party carrier. Also, in connection with the sale of products and entering into business relationships in the ordinary course of business, the Company may make representations affirming, among other things, that its products do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others and agrees to indemnify customers against third-party claims for such infringement as well as its negligence. The Company has not been required to make material payments under such provisions.

Note 13 — Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

Tax Filings

The Company’s tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where it conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or potentially through the courts. Management believes the Company has adequately provided for taxes; however, final assessments, if any, could be significantly different than the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements.

Employment Agreements

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer entered into an employment agreement with the Company, effective March 1, 2015. She and certain officers have as provisions of their agreements certain rights, including continuance of cash compensation and benefits, upon a “change in control,” which may include an acquisition of substantially all its assets, or termination “without cause or for good reason” as defined in the employment agreements.

Litigation and Claims

On August 19, 2020, a putative federal securities class action, Alwazaan v. STAAR Surgical Co., et al., was filed against the Company and certain of its executives in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. On September 1, 2020, a substantially similar federal securities class action, Zhang v. STAAR Surgical Co., et al., was filed against the Company and the same executives in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. On September 11, 2020, the court consolidated the two actions under the caption In re STAAR Surgical Co. Securities Litigation. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the Company made material misstatements regarding its sales in China, its marketing spend, and its R&D expenses. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees. On October 29, 2020, the court appointed a lead plaintiff. On January 15, 2021, the lead plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit, which dismissed the lead plaintiff's claims with prejudice as to him, and without prejudice as to any absent putative class members.

On December 31, 2020, Amir Sitabkhan filed a stockholder derivative complaint against certain members of our Board of Directors, Caren Mason, Stephen C. Farrell, John C. Moore, and Louis E. Silverman, as well as current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Patrick F. Williams and former CFO Deborah Andrews in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiff alleges breaches of fiduciary duties by, among other things, allowing STAAR to disseminate misleading statements to investors regarding its sales and growth in China and overstating marketing and research and development expenses, failing to properly oversee the Company, and unjust enrichment. The complaint seeks damages, restitution and governance reforms, attorneys’ fees, and costs. On January 21, 2021, the court granted the parties’ stipulation extending the time for defendants to respond to the complaint to March 8 2021. Although the ultimate outcome of this action cannot be determined with certainty, the Company believes that the allegations in the Complaint are without merit.