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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P7CcYppfZKciFfMHPe21qtBrJNKo0O0SiXFiRKe5z4+z6oWuDSEsSZGKkSUD4fzW
 CwkbZLYuSHalgX8c2l5jkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-008093.txt : 20030930
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-008093.hdr.sgml : 20030930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030930194000
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-008093
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030930

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODGRIFT RANDEL WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204554

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15525
		FILM NUMBER:		03918864

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE EDWARDS WAY
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492502500

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001099800
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				364316614
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EDWARDS WAY
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9492502500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EDWARDS WAY
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92614

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CVG CONTROLLED INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991126
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EW</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODGRIFT RANDEL WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION;</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE EDWARDS WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92614</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Corp VP, Manufacturing Ops</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Acquire)</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.77</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>357</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-03-30</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-09-30</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>357</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>357</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option was granted pursuant to the Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Executive Option Plan.  The executive officer receives an option in lieu of forgone compensation under a formula where forgone compensation equals 75%, and the exercise price indicated equals 25%, of the fair market value per share on the grant date.  The exercise price may be increased to include an additional amount representing the cost of capital as determined by Edwards.  The option becomes exercisable six months after the grant date.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Randel W. Woodgrift by Bruce P. Garren as Attorney in Fact pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed with the SEC on October 1, 2002.</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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