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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KzL+6NhmPcksfScLMeYNF7NjMH+NaCmXfnQGTdXOtiMYhQo9G3J1Ym0JjnPKoJML
 15DJDkrcpBRNXAekyxLmpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-007774.txt : 20090210
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-007774.hdr.sgml : 20090210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090210080203
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-007774
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ross Paul
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001327112

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22183
		FILM NUMBER:		09583181

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(805) 987-8741

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		740 CALLE PLANO
		CITY:			CAMARILLO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93012

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032067
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS & LENSES [3827]
		IRS NUMBER:				952988062
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6001 OAK CANYON
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494511450

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6001 OAK CANYON
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001032067</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEAD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001327112</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ross Paul</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>308 CAMINO MIRA MONTE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN CLEMENTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92673</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP-Finance and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64162</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Paul E. Ross</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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