<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001021408-02-014523
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20021122
<ITEMS>5
<FILING-DATE>20021122
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COOPER COMPANIES INC
<CIK>0000711404
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3851
<IRS-NUMBER>942657368
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1031
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08597
<FILM-NUMBER>02837544
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6140 STONERIDGE MALL RD
<STREET2>STE 590
<CITY>PLEASANTON
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94588
<PHONE>9254603600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>COOPERVISION INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19870701
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DATE OF EARLIEST REPORT NOVEMBER 22, 2002
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Date of Earliest Report November 22, 2002</TITLE>
</HEAD>
  <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"
COLOR="#000000"><B>Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000"><B>The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 22, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1"
NOSHADE WIDTH="17%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000"><B>THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Delaware</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>1-8597</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94-2657368</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>of
Incorporation)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>Identification
Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>6140&nbsp;Stoneridge&nbsp;Mall&nbsp;Road,&nbsp;Suite&nbsp;590,</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Pleasanton, California</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>94588</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="31%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Zip Code)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>(925) 460-3600 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(Registrants&#146; telephone number, including area code) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>n/a
</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>(former name or former address, if changed since last report) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE
COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>ITEM 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OTHER EVENTS </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">As previously announced, on November 4, 2002, the Board of Directors of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) declared a 100 percent stock dividend on
the shares of its common stock, par value $.10 per share (the &#147;Common Shares&#148;), payable November 22, 2002 to shareholders of record on November 14, 2002. The stock dividend means that a shareholder will receive an additional Common Share
for each Common Share owned on the record date. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Before the stock dividend, the Rights Agreement, dated as of
October 29, 1997 between the Company and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company, as Rights Agent, as amended by the First Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated September 25, 1998 (as so amended, the &#147;Rights Agreement&#148;), provided
for one (1) right to purchase one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company at $145.00 for each Common Share (the &#147;Right&#148;). Pursuant to Section 11.15 of the Rights Agreement, after the
stock dividend, each Common Share outstanding shall have attached to it one-half (1/2) of a Right. Each one-half of a Right will entitle the holder to purchase one two-hundredth (1/200) of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at
$72.50 (subject to possible future adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement). </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">This filing constitutes
notice of the foregoing to the holders of securities of the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of the Rights Agreement and no other notice will be given. </FONT></DIV>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURES </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="26%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">The Cooper Companies, Inc.</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Registrant)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="44%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;November 22, 2002</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="26%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/s/ Carol R. Kaufman</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
<TR>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="26%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Carol R. Kaufman</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Vice President of Legal Affairs, Secretary and Chief Administrative
Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
 </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
 </BODY></HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
