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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 MP+xlJccqSXLfwx6M7pJDQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000711404-03-000070.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0000711404-03-000070.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918190919
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000711404-03-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030918
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZINBERG STANLEY MD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182041

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08597
		FILM NUMBER:		03901802

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037-2406

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZURBERG STANLEY MD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020822

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>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-18</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182041</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZINBERG STANLEY MD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>700 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20037-2406</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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      <transactionTimeliness>
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      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4400</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>17.69</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>7254</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
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      <transactionDate>
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          <transactionPricePerShare>
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          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
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   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
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      <transactionTimeliness>
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      <transactionAmounts>
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              <footnoteId id="F1" />
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          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>18.46</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
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          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
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      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
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          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>900</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>42.50</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2854</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>18</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>900</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2007-11-02</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>900</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>9100</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>18</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-18</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4400</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2009-11-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>4400</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on November 22, 2002</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Exercisable when avg closing prices of Co.'s common stk during any 30 cons cal days after date of grant reaches $22.15</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Exercisable when avg closing prices of Co's common stk during any 30 cons cal days after date of grant reaches $21.23</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Stanley   Zinberg, M.D.</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----