-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206992-03-000004.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0001206992-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730195112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206992-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

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:			SAYFORD RICHARD B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206992

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10694
		FILM NUMBER:		03812843

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837991</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EYE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206992</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAYFORD RICHARD B</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>
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directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.3125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>9.3125</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1997-05-17</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingS
ecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>84880</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.8438</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>34000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.8438</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transac
tionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-06-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-06-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>34000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50880</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercise of stock granted under the  VISX, Incorporated 1995 Director Option Plan, currently known as the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan, which is a Rule 16b-3 plan.  This option is exercisable as follows: 25% upon the first anniversary of the grant and in increments of 1/48th 
per month thereafter for 36 months.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richard B. Sayford</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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