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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1



                                 July 25, 1997



IRIDEX Corporation
340 Pioneer Way
Mountain View, California 94041

         RE:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about July 25, 1997 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a total of 500,000 shares of your Common
Stock reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated 1989 Incentive Stock
Plan, as amended, and 50,000 shares of your Common Stock reserved for issuance
under the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (collectively, the
"Shares") (collectively, the "Plans").  As legal counsel for IRIDEX
Corporation, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the
proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale and
issuance of the Shares under the Plans.

         It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner referred to
in the Plans and pursuant to the respective agreement which accompanies each
grant under the Plans, the Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement and any amendments to it.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                             Professional Corporation