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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-09-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064892</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MENTOR CORP /MN/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UBBEN JEFFREY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VA PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351069</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ValueAct Capital Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE, 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-09-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7357</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restrictions on stock lapse ratably over 5 years on each anniversary date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Under an agreement with ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., Jeffrey W. Ubben is deemed to hold the shares for the benefit of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and indirectly for (i) VA Partners, L.L.C. as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. (ii) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and (iii) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC as General Partner of ValueAct Capital Management, L.P  Jeffrey W. Ubben is a director of Mentor Corporation and Managing Member of VA Partners, L.L.C. and ValueAct Capital Management, LLC.  Peter H. Kamin and George F. Hamel are Managing Members of VA Partners, L.L.C. and ValueAct Capital Management, LLC. The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Joint Filer Information:

Name: ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.,
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006

Name: VA Partners, L.L.C.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006

Name: ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006

Name: Peter H. Kamin
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation, (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: September 14, 2006</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND, L.P., By:  VA PARTNERS, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL  MANAGEMENT, L.P., By:  VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, its General Partner, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, By:/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr., Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
