vsci_s3-123011.htm

S-3 1 vsci_s3-123011.htm FORM S-3 vsci_s3-123011.htm

filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December ____, 2011

Registration No. 333-_________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

VISION-SCIENCES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	13-3430173
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

40 Ramland Road South

Orangeburg, New York 10962

(845) 365-0600

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Katherine L. Wolf

Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Corporate Development

40 Ramland Road South

Orangeburg, New York 10962

(845) 365-0600

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

With a copy to:

Marc P. Press, Esquire

Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.

25 Main Street

Hackensack, NJ 07601

(201) 525-6271

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this form is a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer ¨		Accelerated Filer ¨
Non-Accelerated Filer ¨		Smaller Reporting Company x

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Securities to be Registered (1)	Amount to be Registered (1)(2)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Security (2)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2)(3)	Amount of Registration Fee
Debt Securities
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
Warrants
Units
Total			$25,000,000	$2,865

(1)

There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate amount or number of debt securities, shares of common stock and preferred stock of Vision-Sciences, Inc. (the “Registrant”), such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock of the Registrant, and such indeterminate number of units consisting of common stock and warrants and sold together as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $25,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more currencies. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $25,000.000, less the aggregate dollar amount of securities as may be issued upon conversion of the securities registered, and pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such indeterminable number of shares as may be issued from time to time upon conversion or as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

(2)

Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered hereunder pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with, and at the time of, the issuance of the securities.

(3)	Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee required pursuant to Rule 457(o) thereof, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed.

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, Dated December 30, 2011

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

$25,000,000

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

We may issue and sell from time to time debt securities, our common stock, warrants to purchase common stock (“warrants”) and/or units consisting of common stock and warrants on terms to be determined at the time of sale. The debt securities may be convertible into common stock. We may offer these securities separately or together in one or more offerings with a maximum aggregate offering price of $25 million.

We will provide a prospectus supplement each time we issue securities, specifying the specific terms of the securities being sold as well as the specific terms of that offering.

You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated herein and therein, carefully before you invest.

The securities being sold may be sold on a delayed or continuous basis directly by us, through dealers, agents or underwriters designated from time to time, or through any combination of these methods. If any dealers, agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in any prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VSCI.” None of the other securities offered under this prospectus are publicly traded. On December 29, 2011, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.93 per share. As of such date, there were 44,658,603 shares of our common stock outstanding, consisting of all of our outstanding capital stock, with an aggregate value based on such price of $86.2 million and an aggregate value of common stock held by non-affiliates of $52.7 million. There have been no securities offered by us pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 in the previous twelve months prior to the date of this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “RISK FACTORS” beginning on page 3.

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement for the securities being sold.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this Prospectus is , 2011.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VISION-SCIENCES, INC.	1
RISK FACTORS	1
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	2
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	2
USE OF PROCEEDS	2
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	3
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	5
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK	12
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS	14
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS	15
LEGAL MATTERS	16
EXPERTS	16
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE	16
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	17

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement (including in any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein). We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. We are offering to sell our securities, and seeking offers to buy, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement, and the information contained in any document incorporated herein or therein by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery or any sale of our securities.

VISION-SCIENCES, INC.

Vision-Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” – which may be referred to as “Vision-Sciences”, “we”, “us” or “our”) designs, develops, manufactures, and markets products for endoscopy - the science of using an instrument, known as an endoscope, to provide minimally invasive access to areas not readily visible to the human eye. Our products are sold throughout the world through direct sales representatives in the United States and independent distributors for the rest of the world. With respect to our urology products, we are the exclusive supplier to the Endoscopy Division of Stryker Corporation (“Stryker”). Our largest geographic markets are the U.S. and Europe.

Machida Incorporated (“Machida”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, designs, manufactures, and sells boroscopes to a variety of users, primarily in the aircraft engine manufacturing and aircraft engine maintenance industries. A boroscope is an instrument that uses optical fibers for the visual inspection of narrow cavities.

We were incorporated in Delaware, and are the successor to operations originally begun in 1987. We own the registered trademarks Vision Sciences®, Slide-On®, EndoSheath®, EndoWipe® and The Vision System®. Not all of our products are approved or cleared for sale, distribution or use.

Our principal executive offices are located at 40 Ramland Road South, Orangeburg, New York 10962. Our telephone number is (845) 365-0600. Our corporate website is www.visionsciences.com. Through a link on the Investor Relations section of our website, we make available all of our SEC filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. All filings are available free of charge. Other than SEC filings which are expressly incorporated by reference in this document, the information contained in, or that can be accessed through our website is not part or this prospectus.

Within our medical segment we target five main areas for our fiber and video endoscopes and our EndoSheath technology:

ENT (ear, nose, and throat) – We manufacture ENT endoscopes for use by ENT physicians. We manufacture our TNE (trans-nasal esophagoscopy) endoscopes and also market and sell them to ENT physicians.

Urology – We manufacture, market, and sell our cystoscopes and EndoSheath technology to urologists and other urology-gynecology related physicians. Pursuant to our agreement dated as of September 22, 2010 with Stryker, we supply to Stryker our flexible video and fiber cystoscopes and related EndoSheath products (the “Stryker Agreement”).

Gastroenterology (“GI”) – We manufacture, market, and sell our TNE scopes and EndoSheath technology to GI physicians, primary care physicians, and others with a GI focus as part of their practice, in addition to bariatric surgeons.

Pulmonology – We manufacture, market, and sell our bronchoscope (an endoscope that allows detailed viewing of the lungs) and EndoSheath technology for bronchoscopy to pulmonologists, oncologists, thoracic surgeons, and other pulmonology-related physicians.

Spine – Pursuant to our agreement dated as of June 19, 2008, with SpineView, Inc. (“SpineView”), we supply to SpineView our flexible video surgical endoscope systems to use with SpineView’s products.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks incorporated by reference herein that are described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011, as well as any applicable prospectus supplement and the reports we file from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If any of the events described in such “Risk Factors” section occurs or the risks described in such “Risk Factors” section actually materialize, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow or prospects could be materially adversely affected.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we filed with the SEC. By using a shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, issue and sell in one or more series or classes our common stock, warrants and/or units consisting of our common stock and warrants in one or more offerings up to an aggregate maximum offering price of $25 million (or its equivalent in foreign or composite currencies). Each time we sell any of our securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being sold. We may also add, update or change in the prospectus supplement any of the information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the Company and our securities; for further information about our business and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement, the reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as described in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, further weakening of economic conditions that could adversely affect the level of demand for our products; our ability to satisfactorily distribute our ENT endoscopes without an arrangement with Medtronic; our ability to sell products to Stryker; Stryker's ability to successfully market and sell the products we manufacture for them; pricing pressures, including cost-containment measures which could adversely affect the price of, or demand for, our products; availability of parts on acceptable terms; our ability to design new products and the success of such new products; manufacturing defects; changes in foreign exchange markets; changes in financial markets and changes in the competitive environment and other factors referenced in “Risk Factors”. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements about expectations about future financial results, future products and future sales of new and existing products, future expenditures, and capital resources to meet anticipated requirements. Generally, words such as “expect” “believe”, “anticipate”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “could”, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our future plans, strategies, projections and predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, and our actual results may differ significantly from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference could include the availability of capital resources; the availability of third-party reimbursement; government regulation; the availability of raw material components; our ability to satisfactorily distribute our ENT endoscopes without an arrangement with Medtronic; our dependence on certain distributors and customers; our ability to effect expected sales to Stryker (and the expected margin of such sales); competition; technological difficulties; general economic conditions and other risks detailed in this prospectus or our periodic filings we make with the SEC. While we believe the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that future events or developments will not cause such statements to be inaccurate. All forward-looking statements contained in this report are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We do not undertake an obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including payment of expenses, working capital and repayment, in whole or in part, of outstanding indebtedness under our Amended and Restated Loan Agreement with Lewis C. Pell, the Chairman of our Board of Directors (the “Loan Agreement”) dated as of September 30, 2011, and to otherwise meet the Company’s liquidity needs. At this time, we have not determined the specific uses of any offering proceeds, or the amounts we plan to spend on any particular use or the timing of such expenditures. Pending application of the net proceeds from any particular offering, we intend to invest such proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.

Subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement, we may borrow an aggregate of up to $10 million, of which $8.1 million (in accrued interest and principal) is outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. Under the Loan Agreement, we are required to apply (i) 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of equity to a third-party to the amounts outstanding up to $5 million and (ii) (A) the Applicable Percentage (defined below) times (B) the amount of such proceeds in excess of $5 million, to repay outstanding amounts under the Loan Agreement. “Applicable Percentage” means 20% upon receipt by the Company of $5 million of net proceeds beyond the initial $5 million in net proceeds. This percentage increases on a straight line basis up to 100% upon receipt of cumulative net proceeds to the Company of at least $15 million.

Each time we issue securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain information about how we intend to use the proceeds from each such offering.

We cannot guarantee that we will receive any proceeds in connection with any offering hereunder because we may choose not to issue any of the securities covered by this prospectus.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered hereby from time to time in one or more of the following ways:

·	through one or more underwriters;

·	through dealers, who may act as agents or principal (including a block trade in which a broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction);

·	directly to one or more purchasers;

·	through agents;

·	through registered direct offerings;

·	as part of a collaboration with a third party;
·	in privately negotiated transactions; and

·	in any combination of these methods of sale.

We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms of the offering of securities, including:

·	the name or names of any agents, underwriters or dealers;

·	the terms of the securities being offered, including the purchase price and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

·	any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

·	any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; and

·	any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and others that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. In no event will the total amount of cash compensation paid to underwriters, placement agents, dealers or brokers exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of the offering. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers, agents and others and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers, agents and others to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers, agents and others may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

If required under applicable state securities laws, we will sell the securities only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states, we may not sell securities unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or unless we have complied with an exemption from any registration or qualification requirements.

Agents

We may designate agents who agree to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis. Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment. Agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of the securities for whom they sell as principals. Each particular agent will receive compensation in amounts negotiated in connection with the sale, which might be in excess of customary commissions.

Underwriters

If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. Unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise, underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship, and we may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. We will describe in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter the nature of any such relationship and underwriting arrangement.

Dealers

We also may sell securities to a dealer as principal. If we sell our securities to a dealer as a principal, then the dealer may resell those securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Direct Sales and Institutional Purchases

We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers, in which case underwriters or agents would not be involved in the transaction.

Further, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in an applicable prospectus supplement.

Stabilization Activities

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Such activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than they would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Capital Market or otherwise.

Passive Market Making

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

Costs

We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the securities, as well as the expense of all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to sales of the securities by us.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

The below is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will provide the specific terms of the series in a prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any series of debt securities, you must refer to the prospectus supplement relating to that series and the description of the debt securities in this prospectus. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

The debt securities that may be offered by this prospectus will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee, for one or more series of debt securities designated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We incorporate by reference the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and you should read the indenture carefully for the provisions that may be important to you. We have summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. Terms used in the summary and not defined in this prospectus have the meanings specified in the indenture.

General

We may offer under this prospectus up to $25 million in aggregate principal amount of secured or unsecured debt securities, or if debt securities are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency or composite currency, such principal amount as may be sold for an initial public offering price of up to $25 million. The debt securities may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities.

We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our Board of Directors (the "Board") and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a Board resolution, an officers’ certificate or by a supplemental indenture.

We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities:

	§		the title of the debt securities;

	§		the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

	§		any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

	§		the date or dates on which we will pay the principal on the debt securities;

	§		the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

	§		the place or places where the principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be payable;

	§		the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities;

	§		any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities;

	§		the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

	§		the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

	§		whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

	§		the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

	§		the currency of denomination of the debt securities;

	§		the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of and interest on the debt securities will be made;

	§		if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

	§		the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

	§		any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

	§		any subordination provisions relating to the debt securities;

	§		any addition to or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

	§		any addition to or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

	§		any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series; and

	§		any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities.

We may issue debt securities that are convertible into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchangeable and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Transfer and Exchange

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depositary, or a nominee of the depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security), as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as described under “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at the trustee’s office or paying agencies in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

You may transfer certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on, certificated debt securities only by surrendering the old certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either we or the trustee will reissue the old certificate to the new holder or we or the trustee will issue a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary.

We will require the depositary to agree to follow the following procedures with respect to book-entry debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the related global debt security, whom we refer to as participants, or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global debt security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the book-entry debt securities represented by the global debt security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the book-entry debt securities. Ownership of book-entry debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of the ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the related global debt security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants). The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities.

So long as the depositary for a global debt security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global debt security, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described herein, beneficial owners of book-entry debt securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of a certificate in definitive form representing securities and will not be considered the owners or holders of those securities under the indenture. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture, each person beneficially owning book-entry debt securities must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the related global debt security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest.

We will make payments of principal of, and premium and interest on, book-entry debt securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the related global debt security. We, the trustee and any other agent of ours or agent of the trustee will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, premium or interest on, a global debt security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to the respective amounts of book-entry debt securities held by each participant as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities held through those participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

We will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for each global debt security if the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the book-entry debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities and, in that event, we will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for the global debt securities of that series. Global debt securities will also be exchangeable by the holders for certificated debt securities if an event of default with respect to the book-entry debt securities represented by those global debt securities has occurred and is continuing. Any certificated debt securities issued in exchange for a global debt security will be registered in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of book-entry debt securities relating to such global debt security.

We have obtained the foregoing information in this section concerning the depositary and the depositary’s book-entry system from sources we believe to be reliable. We take no responsibility for the depositary’s performance of its obligations under the rules and regulations governing its operations.

No Protection in the Event of a Change in Control

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) that could adversely affect holders of debt securities.

Covenants

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to an issue of debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person, such person to be referred to as a “successor person”, and we may not permit any person to merge into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to us, unless:

	§		the successor person is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture;

	§		immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture; and

	§		certain other conditions are met.

Events of Default

“Event of default” means, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:

	§		default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of that default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period);

	§		default in the payment of principal of or premium on any debt security of that series when due and payable;

	§		default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any debt security of that series;

	§		default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;

	§		certain events of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

	§		any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus.

No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. An event of default may also be an event of default under our bank credit agreements or other debt securities in existence from time to time and under certain guaranties by us of any subsidiary indebtedness. In addition, certain events of default or an acceleration under the indenture may also be an event of default under some of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than certain events of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization), then the trustee or the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by written notice to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, of all debt securities of that series. In the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, of all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before the trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of the money due, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to our having paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay overdue interest and principal which has become due other than by acceleration and certain other conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults see the discussion under “Modification and Waiver” below. We refer you to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and the continuation of an event of default.

The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any holder of outstanding debt securities, unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:

	§		that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series; and

	§		the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.

The indenture requires us, within 90 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a certificate as to compliance with the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. However, we and the trustee may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holder of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:

	§		change the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment or waiver;

	§		reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security;

	§		reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities;

	§		reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity;

	§		waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from that acceleration);

	§		make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;

	§		make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities or the right of holders to waive past defaults or to amend the limitations described in this bullet point; or

	§		waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any debt securities.

Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.

Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances

Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless the terms of the applicable series of debt securities provide otherwise, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations (as described at the end of this section), that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.

This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless the terms of the applicable series of debt securities provide otherwise, upon compliance with certain conditions, we may omit to comply with the restrictive covenants contained in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplement to the indenture, a Board resolution or an officers’ certificate delivered pursuant to the indenture. The conditions include:

	§		depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and

	§		delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.

Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option, as described above, not to comply with certain covenants of the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we will remain liable for those payments.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock. This summary is not complete. We encourage you to read our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) that we have filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of: (i) 75,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of which 44,658,603 shares were outstanding as of December 29, 2011 and (ii) 5,000,00 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 per value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of which no shares were outstanding as of December 29, 2011.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Cumulative voting is not permitted. Generally, all matters to be voted on by shareholders must be approved by a majority, or, in the case of the election of directors, by a plurality, of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Certain amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation require a supermajority approval of 75% or 66 2/3% of the votes of common stock holders. Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with members of each class holding office for staggered three-year terms.

Holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to those dividends declared by the Board of Directors out of legally available funds, and, in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available to the stockholders. Holders of our outstanding common stock have no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights. Other than restrictions imposed by applicable law, there is no restriction on alienability of the securities being registered.

The issuance of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could (subject to applicable law and stock market listing requirements) have an anti-takeover effect, to discourage persons from gaining control of Vision-Sciences by diluting the voting power of shares then outstanding or increasing the voting power of persons that would support our Board of Directors. Vision-Sciences’ Certificate of Incorporation contains other provisions which could have an anti-takeover effect, including provisions requiring a classified Board of Directors, removal of Board members only for cause and supermajority approval by stockholders to amend certain provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation related to the Board of Directors and certain other matters. The issuance by Vision-Sciences’ of authorized Preferred Stock could also result in the rights, powers and privileges of the Preferred Stock being more favorable than those available to holders of Common Stock or otherwise, adversely affecting Common Stock holders rights, powers and privileges.

All of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock are, and all unissued shares of our common stock, when offered and sold will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. To the extent that additional shares of our common stock may be issued in the future, the relative interests of the then existing shareholders may be diluted.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol VSCI. On December 29, 2011, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.93 per share.

Our registrar and transfer agent for all shares of common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust.

Preferred Stock

We have authorized 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, none of which were outstanding at December 29, 2011. Our Board of Directors can issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series and can specify the following terms for each series:

•

the number of shares;

•

the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares (including rights to dividends, voting, conversion, redemption, anti-dilution or otherwise); and

•

the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, except as otherwise stated in our certificate of incorporation.

The General Corporation Law of Delaware provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of holders of Common Stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of common stock.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

This description summarizes only the terms of any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and related warrant agreements and certificates. You should refer to the warrant agreement, including the form of warrant certificate representing the warrants, relating to the specific warrants being offered for complete terms, which will be described and included in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Such warrant agreement, together with the warrant certificate, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the specific warrants.

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities.

We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate warrant agreement. We may enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent and, if so, we will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants.

The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. Those terms may include:

·	the title of such warrants;

·	the aggregate number of such warrants;

·	the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

·	the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which the price of such warrants may be payable;

·	the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;

·	the price at which the securities issuable upon exercise of such warrants may be acquired;

·	the dates on which the right to exercise such warrants will commence and expire;

·	any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;

·	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

·	if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security or principal amount of such security;

·	if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

·	information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and

·	any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or exercise of such warrants.

As of September 30, 2011, we had 1,880,620 outstanding stock warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $1.86 per share which expire on the later of September 30, 2016 or one year after the termination of our Loan Agreement.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the number of shares of common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. We will specify the place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the applicable certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver upon exercise.

Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, such holder’s warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS

We may issue units comprised of common stock and warrants. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The units may be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to units being offered. The prospectus supplement will describe:

·	the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or transferred separately;

·	a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

·	a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;

·	a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

·	whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The descriptions of the units in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters governed by the State of Delaware with respect to the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon by Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Vision-Sciences for the year ended March 31, 2011, incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by the accounting firm of EisnerAmper LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and are incorporated in reliance upon their report, given upon such firm’s authority as experts in auditing and accounting.

On August 16, 2010, Vision-Sciences was notified that Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP had combined its practice with that of Eisner LLP and the name of the combined practice operates under the name EisnerAmper LLP.

The financial statements of Vision-Sciences for the year ended March 31, 2010, incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by the accounting firm of Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and are incorporated in reliance upon their report, given upon such firm’s authority as experts in auditing and accounting.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents containing such information. This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. You should rely on the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information and information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the termination of the offering:

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2011, as filed with the SEC on June 2, 2011;

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2011, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2011;

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as filed with the SEC on November 7, 2011;

our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on October 4, 2011;

our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on December 19, 2011; and

our Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to Item 5.02 and Item 9.01 (only to the extent of Exhibit 10.10 and 10.11) as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2011.

We will furnish to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that have been incorporated by reference, including exhibits to these documents. You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning our Secretary at the following address and telephone number:

Vision-Sciences, Inc.

Attention: Katherine L. Wolf

Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Corporate Development

40 Ramland Road South

Orangeburg, New York 10962

Telephone No.: (845) 365-0600

Facsimile No.: (845) 365-0620

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our website address is http://www.visionsciences.com. However, information on our website will not be considered a part of this prospectus.

SEC POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Article SEVENTH of the Vision-Science’ Certificate of Incorporation includes such a provision.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, Vision-Sciences has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable

VISION-SCIENCES, INC.

$25,000,000

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

PROSPECTUS

, 2011

We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. You must not rely on any unauthorized information. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The costs and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the offerings described in this registration statement are as follows:

SEC registration fee	$	2,865
Legal fees and expenses	$	*
Trustee fees and expenses	$	*
Accounting fees and expenses	$	*
Printer costs and expenses	$	*
Miscellaneous Fees	$	*
Total	$	2,865

* Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving or who served at the request of the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding to which he or she is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating court determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to the indemnification.

The above provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law are non-exclusive.

Article EIGHTH of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director or officer of the Registrant (a) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) brought against him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, has no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful and (b) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any action by or in the right of the Registrant brought against him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Registrant, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a director or officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, he is required to be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith. In the event the Registrant does not assume the defense, any expenses shall be advanced by the Registrant to a director or officer at his request, provided that he undertakes to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.

Indemnification is required to be made promptly unless the Registrant determines that the applicable standard of conduct required for indemnification has not been met. In the event the Registrant denies a request for indemnification, or if the Registrant fails to dispose of a request for indemnification within 60 days after such payment is claimed by the indemnitee, such person is permitted to petition the court to make an independent determination as to whether such person is entitled to indemnification. As a condition precedent to the right of indemnification, the director or officer must give the Registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is sought and the Registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume the defense thereof.

Article EIGHTH of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided therein is not exclusive, and provides that in the event that the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to expand the indemnification permitted to directors or officers, the Registrant must indemnify those persons to the fullest extent permitted by such law as so amended.

Item 16. Exhibits.

The exhibits marked with an asterisk are filed herewith. The remainder of the exhibits have been previously filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference.

1.1+	Form of Underwriting Agreement

3.1+	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, with Certificate of Amendment thereto

3.2*	Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

4.1*	Form of Indenture related to debt securities

4.2*	Specimen stock certificate for shares of common stock, $0.01 par value

4.3+	Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement (together with form of warrant certificate)

4.4+	Form of Unit Agreement (including form of unit certificate)

4.6+	Certificate of Designations for Preferred Stock

4.7+	Form of Preferred Stock Certificate

5.1*	Opinion of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.

23.1*

Consent of EisnerAmper LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2*	Consent of Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.3*	Consent of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. (Included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1*

Power of Attorney (Included in the signature pages hereto)

25.1†

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities.

*	Filed herewith.

+	To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

†	To be filed by amendment pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that:

Paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof, provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness, provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Orangeburg, State of New York on December 30, 2011.

	VISION-SCIENCES, INC.

	By:	/s/ Cynthia Ansari
		Cynthia Ansari
		Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Cynthia Ansari and Katherine L. Wolf and each or either one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, as either of them deem necessary or advisable to enable the Registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules, regulations or requirements of the SEC, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection wherewith, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or her substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Cynthia Ansari
Cynthia Ansari	Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	December 30, 2011

/s/ Katherine L. Wolf
Katherine L. Wolf	Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Corporate Development (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	December 30, 2011

/s/ Lewis C. Pell
Lewis C. Pell	Chairman of the Board of Directors	December 30, 2011

/s/ David W. Anderson
David W. Anderson	Director	December 30, 2011

/s/ Warren Bielke
Warren Bielke	Director	December 30, 2011

/s/ Lothar Koob
Lothar Koob	Director	December 30, 2011

/s/ Katsumi Oneda
Katsumi Oneda	Director	December 30, 2011

/s/ Bruce Polsky
Bruce Polsky	Director	December 30, 2011

/s/ John J. Rydzewski
John J. Rydzewski	Director	December 30, 2011