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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VyZxWOZCNFf7JRg+b1/utfQyQqmEvnPtvfWBZR0Fw2zf7f6rUk58F8im+edWKhwa
 IkHwn1D7XG+N/0/QNkufQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000711404-03-000038.txt : 20030708
<SEC-HEADER>0000711404-03-000038.hdr.sgml : 20030708
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030708162204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000711404-03-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030707
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030708

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENDER A THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182195

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08597
		FILM NUMBER:		03778652

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21062 BAKE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			92630

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000711404
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPHTHALMIC GOODS [3851]
		IRS NUMBER:				942657368
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6140 STONERIDGE MALL RD
		STREET 2:		STE 590
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9254603600

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COOPERVISION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-07</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182195</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENDER A THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>36</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-07</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-07-07</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>100000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-07-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>100000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>100000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Shares vest on earliest of 1) 12/31/05 if the average price for 30 calendar days preceding December 31, 2005 attains $45.00, or 2
) March 26, 2007.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>A. Thomas Bender</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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