================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                   FORM 8-K/A

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) FEBRUARY 17, 2005

                          VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

             Delaware                     1-7598               94-2359345
   ----------------------------      ----------------      -------------------
   (State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission File         (IRS Employer
        of Incorporation)                Number)           Identification No.)

             3100 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA                    94304-1030
        ----------------------------------------               ----------
        (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (650) 493-4000

                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

================================================================================



Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c)     Exhibits.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (the "Company") filed a Current Report on Form 8-K
on February 24, 2005 reporting the approval by the Company's stockholders of the
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan and the approval by the
Company's Board of Directors of the forms of Restricted Stock Agreement,
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Officers and Nonqualified Stock Option
Agreement for Non-employee Directors. That Current Report attached incorrect
versions of the forms of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Officers and
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-employee Directors. The corrected
versions of the following exhibits are now attached to this Form 8-K/A.

       99.1       Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the Varian
                  Medical Systems, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan.

       99.2       Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Directors
                  under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock
                  Option Plan.

                                        2


                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        Varian Medical Systems, Inc.


                                        By:    /s/ JOSEPH B. PHAIR
                                               ---------------------------------
                                        Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                                        Title: Vice President, Administration,
                                               and General Counsel

Dated:  March 4, 2005

                                        3


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Number                               Exhibit
------    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 99.1     Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Officers under the
          Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Plan.

 99.2     Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement for Directors under the
          Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Stock Option Plan.

                                        4