Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2019	Jul. 25, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	IRIDEX CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001006045
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 29, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-28
Trading Symbol	IRIX
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	0-27598
Entity Tax Identification Number	770210467
Entity Address, Address Line One	1212 Terra Bella Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Mountain View
Entity Address, State or Province	California
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94043-1824
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	940-4700
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,757,890