Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2020	Jul. 23, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	IRIDEX CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001006045
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 27, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
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	77-0210467
Entity Address, Address Line One	1212 Terra Bella Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Mountain View
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94043-1824
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	940-4700
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,887,439
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false