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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001129787-05-000131.txt : 20051007
<SEC-HEADER>0001129787-05-000131.hdr.sgml : 20051007
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051007202226
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001129787-05-000131
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051005
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051007
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051007

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VA PARTNERS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001129787
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31744
		FILM NUMBER:		051130548

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 PACIFIC AVENUE
		STREET 2:		FOURTH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 PACIFIC AVENUE
		STREET 2:		FOURTH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UBBEN JEFFREY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159187
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31744
		FILM NUMBER:		051130549

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1400
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153623700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		435 PACIFIC AVENUE, FOURTH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-05</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>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Grant to buy Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4857</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-10-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-10-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4857</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4857</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Under an agreement with ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., Jeffrey W. Ubben is deemed to hold the restricted grants for the benefit of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P. and indirectly for VA Partners, LLC as general partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P.  Jeffrey W. Ubben is a director of Mentor Corporation and Managing Member of VA Partners, LLC.  Peter H. Kamin and George F. Hamel are Managing Members of VA Partners, LLC, the General Partner of ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. and ValueAct Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P. The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported options 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, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA  94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: October 5, 2005

Name: ValueAct Capital Partners Co-Investors, L.P.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA  94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: October 5, 2005

Name: VA Partners, LLC
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA  94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: October 5, 2005

Name: George F. Hamel, Jr.
Address: 435 Pacific Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA  94133
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: October 5, 2005

Name: Peter H. Kamin
Address: Two International Place, 25th Floor, Boston, MA  02110
Designated Filer: Jeffrey W. Ubben
Issuer and Ticker Symbol: Mentor Corporation (MNT)
Date of Event Requiring Statement: October 5, 2005</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Jeffrey W. Ubben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL MASTER FUND, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VALUEACT CAPITAL PARTNERS CO-INVESTORS, L.P., BY VA PARTNERS, L.L.C., ITS GENERAL PARTNER By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>VA PARTNERS, L.L.C. By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr. Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ George F. Hamel, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Peter H. Kamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
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