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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837991</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EYE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206971</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVILA ELIZABETH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31145</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.6875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12390</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12390</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.6875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32717</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32717</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9795</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9795</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90205</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>90205</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6353</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>218647</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-27</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionShares>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between issuer and Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in exchange for 17,192 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock on the effective date of the merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of May 23, 1996, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 7,957 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $13.53 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of May 23, 1996, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 21,012 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $13.53 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option, which provided for vesting at 1/24th per month of the shares subject to the option vest beginning at the grant date of February 25, 1999, was canceled pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 17, 2000, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 6,290 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $40.20 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 17, 2000, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 57,934 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $40.20 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 12, 2001, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 4,080 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $24.51 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 12, 2001, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 140,426 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $24.51 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 13, 2001, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 513,802 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $24.76 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 12, 2002, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 4,242 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $23.58 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 12, 2002, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 140,264 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $23.58 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of March 3, 2003, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 7,997 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $12.51 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of March 3, 2003, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 88,340 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $12.51 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 11, 2004, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 3,254 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $30.73 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F15">This option, which provided for vesting at 25% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the first anniversary of the grant and 1/48 of the shares subject to the option vest at the end of each full month for 36 months following the initial grant date of February 11, 2004, was assumed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 109,139 shares of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. common stock for $30.73 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth H. D?vila</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
