Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 02, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross (in Dollars)	$ 5,091,000
Goodwill (in Dollars)		1,339,000		1,339,000
Customer Relationships [Member] | Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		5 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		5 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		11 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Tax, UsefulLife		15 years
Finite-Lived Goodwill [Member] | Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Tax, UsefulLife		15 years
Iridex's Global Aesthetics Business Unit [Member]
Note 3 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross (in Dollars)	5,091,000		5,100,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill (in Dollars)			4,800,000
Goodwill (in Dollars)	$ 1,339,000		$ 1,300,000