STAAR Surgical Company's stock surged 14.32% during pre-market trading on Thursday. The intraocular lens maker reported first-quarter financial results that significantly exceeded market expectations, driving a sharp rally in its shares.

The company swung to a profit with Q1 net income of $5.2 million, compared to a loss in the prior-year period. Revenue more than doubled year-over-year to a record $93.5 million, beating analyst estimates. Management attributed the strong performance to a recovery in demand in China, normalization of distributor inventory levels, and the successful launch of its EVO+ ICL product in the region.

Gross margin improved substantially to 73.6%, driven by manufacturing efficiencies. Following the earnings release, several analysts raised their price targets on the stock, reflecting increased confidence in the company's growth trajectory and its plan to supply the Chinese market from its Swiss facility to avoid import tariffs.