STAAR Surgical Reports Strong Preliminary Net Sales Growth for Q1 2026
STAAR Surgical Company, a global leader in implantable lens technology for vision correction, has released its preliminary net sales results for the first quarter of 2026, highlighting significant year-over-year growth and improved operational performance.
The company reported expected net sales exceeding $90 million for the quarter ended April 3, 2026. This marks a substantial increase compared to $42.6 million recorded during the same period in 2025. The announcement comes ahead of the company’s formal quarterly earnings release, as STAAR prepares to engage with investors, surgeons, and ophthalmology professionals at the upcoming ASCRS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Early Disclosure Ahead of Industry Engagement
STAAR chose to disclose its preliminary sales figures earlier than usual due to its anticipated participation in high-level discussions with members of the investment and medical communities. Events such as the ASCRS Annual Meeting provide a platform for companies to showcase performance, share insights, and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders.
By offering an early look at its financial performance, STAAR aims to provide transparency and context for these conversations, particularly given the strong growth trajectory demonstrated in the first quarter.
Significant Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth
The company’s projected net sales for Q1 2026 represent more than a twofold increase compared to the same quarter last year. This sharp rise reflects both improved market conditions and internal strategic execution.
A key factor contributing to this growth was the company’s performance in China, which remains its largest market. According to STAAR, China accounted for the majority of the increase in net sales, underscoring the region’s importance to the company’s global revenue base.
In addition to China, STAAR also reported double-digit growth in the Americas, further strengthening its overall financial position and demonstrating a broad-based recovery across major markets.
Improved Cost Structure and Profitability Outlook
Beyond revenue growth, STAAR emphasized improvements in its cost structure, which are expected to translate into stronger profitability metrics. The company indicated that the combination of higher sales and cost efficiencies will likely result in a meaningful improvement in adjusted EBITDA for the quarter.
Deborah Andrews, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer, highlighted the significance of these developments, noting that the company is making measurable progress toward its strategic priorities.
According to Andrews, the results align with two of the three core objectives outlined in the company’s earlier shareholder communication:
- Revenue Growth
- Profit Expansion
While it is still early in the fiscal year, she described the preliminary results as a strong indicator of the company’s overall business health and operational momentum.
Continued Market Volatility and Uncertainty
Despite the positive performance, STAAR acknowledged that global business conditions remain volatile. The company emphasized that certain segments of its operations continue to face unpredictability, driven by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.
As a result, STAAR has opted to maintain its position of not providing forward guidance for revenue or earnings. This cautious approach reflects ongoing uncertainties in the global economic environment, as well as region-specific challenges that could impact future performance.
The company reiterated its commitment to delivering a comprehensive update when it releases its full quarterly financial results and files its Form 10-Q in early May.
Regional Challenges Impacting Sales
While overall growth was strong, not all regions experienced positive trends. STAAR reported that net sales declined in parts of the Middle East, as well as certain areas within the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific) regions.
These declines were attributed to significant geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic challenges, which have disrupted market conditions and reduced demand in affected areas.
The company noted that it is actively monitoring these developments and cautioned that adverse conditions could persist. If geopolitical instability or economic pressures continue, they may further impact sales growth in these and potentially other regions.
Recovery in China Following Inventory Adjustments
A major contributor to the year-over-year growth was the normalization of business conditions in China. During the first quarter of 2025, STAAR’s sales in the region were significantly constrained due to excess inventory held by distributors.
At that time, the company shipped only minimal quantities of its EVO Implantable Collamer Lenses (EVO ICLs) as distributors worked to reduce inventory levels.
By contrast, as of the end of Q1 2026, STAAR reported that distributor inventory in China has returned to targeted levels, allowing for more consistent and sustainable sales activity. This normalization played a critical role in driving the sharp increase in net sales for the current quarter.
The improved inventory balance is expected to support ongoing growth in China, provided that market conditions remain stable.
Strategic Focus on Core Objectives
STAAR’s performance in the first quarter reflects its continued focus on executing key strategic priorities. The company has emphasized three main objectives for 2026:
- Driving Revenue Growth
- Expanding Profit Margins
- Strengthening Overall Business Resilience
The preliminary results suggest that STAAR is making meaningful progress, particularly in the first two areas. The combination of strong demand in core markets and improved operational efficiency has positioned the company for continued advancement.
However, the third objective—building resilience—remains closely tied to external factors such as global economic stability and geopolitical developments.
Outlook and Next Steps
Looking ahead, STAAR plans to release its full financial results for the first quarter in early May, along with its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These filings will provide a more detailed and finalized view of the company’s financial performance, including audited figures and additional disclosures.
The company emphasized that the preliminary figures announced are unaudited and subject to adjustment, as it completes its quarterly review and finalizes its financial statements in coordination with its independent registered public accounting firm.
STAAR Surgical’s preliminary net sales results for Q1 2026 highlight a strong start to the year, driven by robust growth in China and the Americas, as well as improvements in cost efficiency and profitability.
While challenges remain in certain regions due to geopolitical and economic factors, the company’s overall performance underscores the strength of its core business and its ability to execute on strategic priorities.
As STAAR prepares to share its full financial results, investors and industry stakeholders will be closely watching to see whether this early momentum can be sustained throughout the remainder of the year.
About STAAR Surgical
STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ: STAA) is the global leader in implantable phakic intraocular lenses, a vision correction solution that reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses. Since 1982, STAAR has been dedicated solely to ophthalmic surgery, and for 30 years, STAAR has been designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing advanced Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICLs), using its proprietary biocompatible Collamer material. STAAR ICL’s are clinically-proven to deliver safe long-term vision correction without removing corneal tissue or the eye’s natural crystalline lens. Its EVO ICL™ product line provides visual freedom through a quick, minimally invasive procedure. STAAR has sold more than 4 million ICLs in over 85 countries. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California, the company operates research, development, manufacturing, and packaging facilities in California and Switzerland.
