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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement
of IRIDEX Corporation and subsidiaries on Form S-8 (File No. 333-4264) of our
report dated February 10, 1997, on our audits of the consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedule of IRIDEX Corporation and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1996, which report is included in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
 
                                          /S/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
San Jose, California
March 24, 1997