-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WP2txtVj+YARmHXR51CMU95MuUbHiOP+5u6t5NVl533gOlu7UCgRNiUDtZsZX7CH
 Qz+J8NtUdXZAkSA70A8gtg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000711404-04-000065.txt : 20041217
<SEC-HEADER>0000711404-04-000065.hdr.sgml : 20041217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041217133209
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000711404-04-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041217

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRYLING GREGORY A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182777

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08597
		FILM NUMBER:		041210762

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21062 BAKE PARKWAY #200
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92630
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9495974900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9495974900
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92630
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-12-14</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182777</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRYLING GREGORY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6140 STONERIDGE MALL DR., SUITE 590</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94588</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO - CooperVision</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>68.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>44500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>68.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>44500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests if the Company's stock price achieves certain targets within specified timeframes as follows: one-fourth shall vest if Fair Market Value of the Company's
stock achieves $77.03, but not earlier than 6/15/05; one-fourth shall vest if Fair Market Value of the Company's stock achieves $82.54, but not earlier than 6/15/06; one-fourth shall vest if the Fair Market Value of the Company's stock achieves $89.41 but not earlier than 6/15/07; and one-fourth shall vest if the Fair Market Value of the Company's stock achieves $96.29 but not earlier than 6/16/08.  All options not otherwise vesting pursuant to the above timetable shall become exercisable on December 13, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory Fryling</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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