STAAR SURGICAL COMPANY
EX-10.33
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<TYPE>EX-10.33
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<DESCRIPTION>EX-10.33
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<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ep1204_exhibit_10.33"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ep1204_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit 10.33    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ep1204_modification_to_employment_agreement"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ep1204_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>MODIFICATION TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Modification to Employment Agreement ("Modification") is dated as of the 31st day of May&nbsp;2000 and is made by and between STAAR Surgical Company, a
Delaware corporation, (the "Company") and John Santos (the "Employee") based on the following: </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ep1204_recitals"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ep1204_3"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>RECITALS    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>A.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> On April&nbsp;28, 1999 the Employee agreed to render services to the Company as its Vice President
Controller through April&nbsp;27, 2002 on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in that certain "Employment Agreement" signed by the Employee and by the Company. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>B.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> Pursuant to paragraph&nbsp;12(c)(i)&nbsp;of the Employment Agreement, the Company and the Employee wish to modify its terms and
conditions. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>NOW, THEREFORE,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises contained in this Modification, the Company and the
Employee agree as follows: </FONT></P>

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NAME="ep1204_agreement"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ep1204_4"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>AGREEMENT    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;Change of Title.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Wherever in the Employment Agreement the Employee is referred to as "Vice President
Controller", that term shall be replaced by the term "Chief Financial Officer." </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;Change to Paragraph&nbsp;2.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Paragraph&nbsp;2 of the Employment Agreement shall be modified to
state, "Employee shall report to Company's Chief Executive Officer or his designee. Employee shall devote his entire productive time, ability, and attention to Company's business during the term of
this Agreement. In his capacity as Chief Financial Officer, Employee shall do and perform all services, acts,
or things as are commonly performed by an employee of his rank in a publicly traded corporation or which may, from time to time, be prescribed by the Company through its Board of Directors (the
"Board") or its Chief Executive Officer. Furthermore, Employee agrees to cooperate with and work to the best of his ability with Company's management team, which includes the Board and the officers
and other employees, to continually improve Company's reputation in its industry for quality products and performance." </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;Modification to Compensation.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;The first sentence of paragraph&nbsp;5(a) of the Employment
Agreement shall be modified to state, "As of June&nbsp;1, 2000, Company shall pay to Employee a base salary of One Hundred Fifty-five Thousand Dollars ($155,000) per year." </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;All Other Terms and Conditions to Remain the Same.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company and the Employee agree that all other
terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement shall remain the same. </FONT></P>

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>IN WITNESS WHEREOF,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> the parties have executed this Modification as of the date first written above. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="52%" COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2><B>"Company"<BR> </B></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="52%" COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>STAAR Surgical Company</FONT></TD>
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By:</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="46%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>WILLIAM C. HUDDLESTON</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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/s/&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>JOHN SANTOS</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> John Santos</FONT></TD>
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<P><br><A NAME="01WLA1211_14">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ep1204_1">Exhibit 10.33</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ep1204_2">MODIFICATION TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ep1204_3">RECITALS</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ep1204_4">AGREEMENT</A></FONT><BR>

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