<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001254063-03-000002
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030703
<FILING-DATE>20030714
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY
<CIK>0000718937
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3851
<IRS-NUMBER>953797439
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0101
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1911 WALKER AVE
<CITY>MONROVIA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91016
<PHONE>8183037902
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1911 WALKER AVE
<CITY>MONROVIA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91016
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SANDERS DONALD LTD
<CIK>0001254063
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-11634
<FILM-NUMBER>03785179
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>180 W. PARK AVE.
<STREET2>SUITE 150
<CITY>ELMHURST
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60126
<PHONE>6305309700X12
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>180 W. PARK AVE.
<STREET2>SUITE 150
<CITY>ELMHURST
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60126
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-03</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000718937</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STAA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254063</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SANDERS DONALD LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Consultant</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>No Securities Owned</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-08-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-06-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>105000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>By:  Deborah Andrews, Attorney in Fact for Donald Sanders LTD</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
