<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001236544-03-000001
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030821
<FILING-DATE>20030822
<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>MORRISON DAVID R
<CIK>0001236544
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-11634
<FILM-NUMBER>03861630
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1911 WALKER AVENUE
<CITY>MONROVIA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91016
<PHONE>6263037902
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1911 WALKER AVENUE
<CITY>MONROVIA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>91016
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000718937</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STAA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236544</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRISON DAVID 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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.49</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.5153</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.49</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.49</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vested in three equal installments on May 25, 2001, 2002 and 2003</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>s/Deborah Andrews Attorney in Fact for David R. Morrison</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SUBMISSION>
