MONROVIA, Calif.—Staar Surgical (Nasdaq: STAA) saw its net loss grow to $8.9 million in its first quarter ended March 28, despite record sales in the period.

In Q1, Staar Surgical’s total sales rose 20 percent to just under $18 million. International sales were up 37 percent in the quarter, although sales in the U.S. fell by 11 percent in the three-month period.

The company’s $8.9 million net loss included $6 million in losses generated by Staar Japan. In the first quarter of 2007, Staar had a net loss of $3.5 million.