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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LwXuUS14sak8ILXWNo5+g8db5nrbxZybfVkjAAkCbn1s1olihh77C7irG7ibrhcy
 fnlpcYoV96mqz7XIhA1AoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206980-04-000004.txt : 20040603
<SEC-HEADER>0001206980-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040603193106
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206980-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040528
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VISX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000837991
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				061161793
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087332020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VISX INC
		STREET 2:		3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051-0703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TAUNTON TECHNOLOGIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19901212

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARNER CAROL F H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206980

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10694
		FILM NUMBER:		04848303

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087332020

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3400 CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837991</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EYE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206980</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARNER CAROL F H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, Research &amp; Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1626</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.599</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1626</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1,626 shares acquired on May 28, 2004 pursuant to the VISX, Incorporated 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which is a Rule 16b-3 plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol F. H. Harner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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