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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WSvjRndw/nI2b1nsHHe8uR8fKvlzael8QF02uYmlHJqlwkFMDLZgnRkS5C6BmH0m
 tM10ROAWz6/VWUS24jK7NA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206981-04-000002.txt : 20040517
<SEC-HEADER>0001206981-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040517190057
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206981-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040517

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:			HOLMES JAY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206981

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10694
		FILM NUMBER:		04814308

	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>2004-05-13</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206981</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLMES JAY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VISX, INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock (Right to Acquire)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1314</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1314</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1314</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option to purchase Common Stock of VISX, Incorporated granted automatically upon re-election to the Board of Directors of VISX, Incorporated pursuant to the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan (previously known as the 1995 Director Option Plan) which is a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  This option is 100% vested upon the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock is credited to the Reporting Person's account under the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan and upon exercise will be settled in common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares of phantom stock become payable in common stock following the Reporting Person's termination of service as a director, in accordance with the deferral election made by the Reporting Person pursuant to the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jay T. Holmes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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