Visian(R) Implantable Collamer(R) Lens(TM) Gives Bobsledder Ability to Continue in Sport, Win Olympic Gold

MONROVIA, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA) a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, including the Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), today congratulated Steve Holcomb for leading the United States Bobsled team on Saturday evening to its first gold medal win in 62 years. In 2008, Holcomb, who was extremely nearsighted and suffered from the degenerative eye condition keratoconus, had a STAAR Visian ICL implanted in each eye to correct the nearsightedness. Immediately, his vision improved from a reported 20/500 to 20/20, and he was able to resume his quest for Olympic gold.

"It got to a point in 2008 where I couldn't see anymore," said Holcomb in an interview with NBC made available on the network's Olympics site and through the link: http://bit.ly/VisianGold. "They couldn't make contacts strong enough."

"I went to my coach and told him I had to quit," Holcomb said in the same NBC interview. "I had to retire because it was becoming a safety issue, I can't see anymore."

"They put a lens inside my eyes," Holcomb explained in the NBC interview. "It's basically a contact lens inside my eye, right behind my iris. It was about ten minutes, and as soon I was up I could see 20/20. It's been pretty incredible ever since and literally a year later I'm a world champion."

The Visian ICL is the new more flexible alternative to LASIK. It typically improves visual acuity to 20/20, with excellent visual quality, and while it is designed to be a permanent solution for vision correction, unlike LASIK, the Visian ICL can be removed if a patient's vision changes or if it needs to be removed or replaced - patient satisfaction is extremely high. The lens is made of Collamer, a lens material that is highly compatible with the body's immune system, and is available exclusively through STAAR Surgical. The Visian ICL has been implanted in more than 150,000 eyes worldwide and has established a proven track record of safety offering a wider treatment range for myopia than LASIK and PRK procedures. The Visian ICL is implanted in front of the natural lens and then gently tucked behind the iris (colored part of the eye) the entire procedures takes approximately 20 minutes and once implanted, no additional maintenance is needed.

"The worldwide employees of STAAR have followed Steve's career since we learned of his choice to undergo the quick procedure to implant the Visian ICL about two years ago," said Barry G. Caldwell, President & CEO. "We were thrilled when Steve piloted the U.S. team to a World Championship title a year ago, but nothing matches the excitement of Saturday night when Steve ended a 62-year drought for the U.S. in four-man bobsledding. Our Visian ICL enabled Steve to regain his vision and we congratulate him and the entire U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation on this tremendous display of courage, leadership and victory."

To learn more about the Visian ICL ,and to locate your local Leading ICL Specialist surgeon, go to www.visianinfo.com. Or follow us at www.Facebook.com/visianicl or www.Twitter.com/visianicl.

About STAAR Surgical

STAAR is a leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of minimally invasive ophthalmic products employing proprietary technologies. STAAR's products are used by ophthalmic surgeons and include the Visian ICL, a tiny, flexible lens implanted to correct refractive errors, as well as innovative products designed to improve patient outcomes for cataracts and glaucoma. Manufactured in Switzerland by STAAR, the ICL is approved by the FDA for use in treating myopia, has received CE Marking and is sold in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.staar.com.

SOURCE STAAR Surgical Company

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