-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KjYhPEU4Y7QYS0qZFIK6ikbWsjWKroKea0P6F9o6VtQLPVArBOH3wFg6njCDo2mP
 8iiCKNG68e4UqrMFXXKZ0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001010610-05-000012.txt : 20050520
<SEC-HEADER>0001010610-05-000012.hdr.sgml : 20050520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050520172839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001010610-05-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050520
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050520

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TLC VISION CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010610
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, NEC [8093]
		IRS NUMBER:				980151150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5600 EXPLORER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3144346900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		540 MARYVILLE CENTRE DR
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TLC LASER CENTER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960314

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VAMVAKAS ELIAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001061865

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29302
		FILM NUMBER:		05849199

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9056022020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5280 SOLAR DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			MISSISSAUGA
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			L4W 5M8
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001010610</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TLC VISION CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>tlcv</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001061865</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VAMVAKAS ELIAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5280 SOLAR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MISSISSAUGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>L4W 5M8</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-02-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-08-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2003-02-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>246000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">125,000 options for common shares expired.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options expired.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Elias Vamvakas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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