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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-019280.txt : 20041004
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-019280.hdr.sgml : 20041004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041004163319
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-019280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041004

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BESSLER ANITA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204545

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15525
		FILM NUMBER:		041062916

	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>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204545</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BESSLER ANITA</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, Global Franchise Mgmt</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3788</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Acquire)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.375</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>107</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>107</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>107</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares represented on the most recent statement of the 401(k) Plan Administrator where a unitized accounting procedure is utilized to convert the equities to share equivalents.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This Form 4 reflects changes in beneficial ownership only; it does not identify other securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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/ Jay P. Wertheim, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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