-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A/Sw5jq6z4S/SzKYm0dItDIdWcu/06EjGhCpp108tSk7NAvtTKnGzp+hfbUw+PKP
 EtfzWu5lEJzv3xJAMGzUpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000711404-08-000027.txt : 20080923
<SEC-HEADER>0000711404-08-000027.hdr.sgml : 20080923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080923123135
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000711404-08-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080923
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080923

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6140 STONERIDGE MALL ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 590
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COOPERVISION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Murphy Dennis
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001445624

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08597
		FILM NUMBER:		081083992

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		714-368-5162

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28 PASO ROBLES
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001445624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murphy Dennis</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6140 STONERIDGE MALL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 590</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>President Americas, CVI</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol Kaufman, Wendy Stark, Sharyl Proscia, Cynthia Wallace</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----