<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OCULAR SCIENCES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OCLR</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257609</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POTTER MARY JO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1855 GATEWAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CONCORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94520</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.05</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-28</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-08-31</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-07-28</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option granted on July 28, 2003 vests according to the following schedule:  During the reporting person's continued service to the Company, 2.78% of the aggregate shares subject to the option shall vest on the last day of each month beginning August 31, 2003.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Mary Jo Potter</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-30</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

