Employee Benefit Plans (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2012
Swiss Plan [Member]
2013	$ 51
2014	50
2015	52
2016	55
2017	58
2018 - 2023	336
Total	602
Japan Plan [Member]
2013	59
2014	60
2015	72
2016	90
2017	236
2018 - 2023	388
Total	$ 905

Reflects the total amount of expected future benefit payments.

No definition available.

Name:	staa_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPayments
Namespace Prefix:	staa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the five rolling twelve months after the fifth rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet presented from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

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