-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IF+kOLqcIBnKOimJKyDJ6pyriuJHocqOegGl66bYfYk6dwXJeu0gFED3LBG5Oko0
 jpJwFpk3VHyHJRGLoqe9mw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001014195-03-000001.txt : 20030609
<SEC-HEADER>0001014195-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030609
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030609155540
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001014195-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030605
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030609

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NAKONECHNY MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014195

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07955
		FILM NUMBER:		03737542

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8058796000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MENTOR CORP /MN/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064892
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				410950791
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DR
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8058796000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 MENTOR DR
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014195</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NAKONECHNY MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>15000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>21.68</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>18450</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adel Michael attorney-in-fact for Michael Nakonechny</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----