-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-047444.txt : 20041005
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-047444.hdr.sgml : 20041005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041005150736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-047444
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041004
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RATNER CHARLES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217463

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12814
		FILM NUMBER:		041065778

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE SUITE 1100
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				341453189
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1925 ENTERPRISE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			TWINSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3304863100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1925 ENTERPISE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			TWINSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44087

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CNC HOLDING CORP/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
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    <periodOfReport>2004-10-04</periodOfReport>

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        <issuerName>COLE NATIONAL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CNJ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerName>RATNER CHARLES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>16980 SOUTH PARK BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHAKER HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44120</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </expirationDate>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.4688</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.2513</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.205</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.515</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.29</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.43</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.965</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1571</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.755</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17347</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects disposition of shares in exchange for the cash price indicated pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Luxottica Group S.p.A., Colorado Acquisition Corporation and Cole National Corporation, as amended (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects disposition of options in exchange for the cash price indicated, which represents the difference between the exercise price and the merger price, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One-for-One.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects disposition of phantom stock units in exchange for the cash price indicated, pursuant to the Merger Agreement.  The units reflected Common Shares underlying deferred compensation credited to the account of the Reporting Person under the Cole National Corporation Nonemployee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.  Each phantom stock unit was generally distributable following termination of service as a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles A. Ratner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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