STAAR SURGICAL CO

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INDUSTRY DATA

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report) contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is subject to the safe harbor created therein. All statements other than statements of historical or current facts in this report or referred to or incorporated by reference into this report are forward-looking statements. These statements include comments regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. In some cases readers can recognize forward-looking statements by the use of words like “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “forecast,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” (or the negative of those words and similar words or expressions), although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report include, without limitation, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management regarding any of the following: demand for our Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICLs); the benefits of our leadership realignment and related efforts; China macroeconomic conditions, procedure volumes, demand, and inventory levels; any projections of or guidance as to future earnings, revenue, sales, profit margins, expense rate, cash, effective tax rate, product mix, capital expense or any other financial items; the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations or prospects for achieving such plans, including statements under the caption “Strategic Imperatives for 2026” in Part II. Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”; statements regarding new, existing, or improved products, including but not limited to, expectations for success of new, existing, and improved products in the U.S. or international markets or government approval of new or improved products; commercialization of new or improved products; future economic conditions or size of market opportunities globally; expected costs of operations; statements of belief, including as to achieving business plans for 2026 and beyond; expected regulatory activities and approvals, product launches, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. We caution investors and prospective investors that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and to note they speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements are included in the risk factors set forth in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any financial projections or forward-looking statements due to new information or other events, except as required by law.

This Annual Report contains estimates, projections and other information concerning the ophthalmic industry, our business, and the markets for certain medical conditions, procedures, and products. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from the estimates and forecasts reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market, and other data from reports, research surveys, studies, and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data, and similar sources.

In order to assist investors and prospective investors with an understanding of the ophthalmic industry, our business, certain medical conditions, procedures and products, we have included in this Annual Report a discussion of the structure and function of the human eye, commencing on page 8, and a glossary explaining many of the technical terms used in this Annual Report, commencing on page 16.