8-K

                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): June 13, 2002


                            COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION
           401(K) SAVINGS PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF PEARLE VISION CENTERS
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


                  DELAWARE                  1-12814            34-1453189
 (State or Other Jurisdiction           (Commission           (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                  File  Number)       Identification No.)

COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION
5915 LANDERBROOK DRIVE
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO                                            44124
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (440) 449-4100



                                 Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)









ITEM 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

         Effective June 13, 2002, the Board of Directors of Cole National
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), on recommendation of the
Audit Committee of the Company determined to replace Arthur Andersen LLP
("Arthur Andersen") as the independent public accountants for the Cole National
Corporation 401(K) Savings Plan for Employees of Pearle Vision Centers (the
"Plan") and to appoint Grant Thornton LLP ("Grant Thornton") to serve as the
independent public accountants for the Plan for the year ended December 31,
2001.

         Arthur Andersen's audit reports on the Plan's financial statements for
each of the years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999 did not contain
an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified
as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Arthur Andersen has not
provided an audit report on the Plan's financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2001.

         During the Plan's two years ended December 31, 2000 and December
31, 1999 and the subsequent interim period preceding the decision to change
independent public accountants, there were no disagreements with Arthur Andersen
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Arthur
Andersen's satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject
matter of the disagreement in connection with the audit reports on the Plan's
financial statements for such years, and there were no reportable events as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

         The Company provided Arthur Andersen with a copy of the foregoing
disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16.1 is a copy of Arthur Andersen's letter,
dated June 19, 2002, stating that it found no basis for disagreement with such
statements.

         In the years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and through
the date hereof, the Company and the Plan did not consult with Grant Thornton
with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified
transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that
might be rendered on the Plan's financial statements, or any other matters on
reportable events as set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.











ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)    EXHIBITS.

         EXHIBIT
         NUMBER         DESCRIPTION
         ----------     --------------------

         16.1           LETTER FROM ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP TO THE SECURITIES AND
                        EXCHANGE COMMISSION, DATED JUNE 19, 2002.









                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                   COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
                                   FOR EMPLOYEES OF PEARLE VISION CENTERS

                                   By:  /s/ Tracy Burmeister
                                       -------------------------------
                                          Name:  Tracy Burmeister
                                          Title: Member of the Plan's
                                                 Investment Committee


Date:  June 19, 2002









                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         EXHIBIT
         NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
         -------------     --------------------

            16.1           LETTER FROM ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP TO THE SECURITIES AND
                           EXCHANGE COMMISSION, DATED JUNE 19, 2002.

EX-16.1

                                                                  EXHIBIT 16.1





Office of the Chief Accountant
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549



June 19, 2002

Dear Sir or Madam:

The representations made in this letter are based solely on discussions with and
representations from the engagement partner and manager on the audits of the
financial statements of this registrant for the two years ended December 31,
2000 and December 31 1999. Those individuals are no longer with Arthur Andersen
LLP. We have read Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated June 19, 2002 of Cole
National Corporation 401(K) Savings Plan for Employees of Pearle Vision Centers
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and have found no basis
for disagreement with the statements contained therein.

Very truly yours,

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


By:  /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP



cc:  Mr. Thomas T. S. Kaung