<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-23</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000837991</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EYE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206978</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRENCH GLENDON E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VISX, INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3400 CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock (Right to Acquire)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>880</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>17.06</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Commom Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>880</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>880</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock is credited to the Reporting Person's account under the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan and upon exercise will be settled in common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The shares of phantom stock become payable in common stock following the Reporting Person's termination of service as a director, in accordance with the deferral election made by the Reporting Person pursuant to the 1995 Director Option and Stock Deferral Plan.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Glendon E. French</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

