-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 pMl/MIsHwLyxXw/6wl5r0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000064892-05-000063.txt : 20051007
<SEC-HEADER>0000064892-05-000063.hdr.sgml : 20051007
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051007205112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000064892-05-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051005
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051007
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051007

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MENTOR CORP /MN/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064892
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				410950791
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DR
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8058796000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DR
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Adornetto David J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001299624

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31744
		FILM NUMBER:		051130568

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		805-879-6325

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111
</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>2005-10-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064892</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MENTOR CORP /MN/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001299624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Adornetto David J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 MENTOR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Loren McFarland attorney-in-fact for &quot;the person the form is being filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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