Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 23, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	IRIDEX CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001006045
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 03, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Trading Symbol	IRIX
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,945,820