-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VOXpIuDrN+0/DsfJg6Vnm5H4mslRVOCqBpo5RufdgFqRhgS0lkyU30xVqDw398Hs
 ZxcRSY80TAqOtYw6+lKwaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-06-010479.txt : 20060510
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-06-010479.hdr.sgml : 20060510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060510165409
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-06-010479
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060510
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060510
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060510

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Meissner Paul L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298120

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05255
		FILM NUMBER:		06826983

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(408) 764-4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COHERENT, INC
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 54980
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95056-0980

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COHERENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000021510
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				941622541
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5100 PATRICK HENRY DR
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087644000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5100 PATRICK HENRY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		MAIL STOP P38
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COHERENT RADIATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19770604
</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>2006-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000021510</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COHERENT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Meissner Paul L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 54980</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP, GM, Laser Systems</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>514</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.1685</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5624</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott H. Miller, by power of atty</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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