-----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,
 JEfZgaiO5BQTJz299yr7lNVaHkavN2Zlb581+D1vvIU7Fn9r7s3Y8NHIfj4H698P
 YyoAYREW90KTXVkfBL8lyg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001010610-07-000009.txt : 20070717
<SEC-HEADER>0001010610-07-000009.hdr.sgml : 20070717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070717102535
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001010610-07-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070712
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070717
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070717

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:		5280 SOLAR DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		636-534-2300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		16305 SWINGLEY RIDGE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			CHESTERFIELD
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63017

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rasche Steven P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297719

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29302
		FILM NUMBER:		07983098

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		314-849-6161

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12442 CINEMA LANE
		CITY:			SAINT LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63127
</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>2007-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rasche Steven P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12442 CINEMA LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAINT LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>343</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10043</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven P. Rasche</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----