IRIDEX CORP

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on June 12, 2026

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of stockholders of IRIDEX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on June 12, 2026 (the “Annual Meeting”) at 8:00 a.m., Pacific time, at the Company’s principal executive offices located at 1212 Terra Bella Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043.

The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes as more fully described in the attached formal meeting notice and proxy statement, including the appendices thereto and related materials (the “Proxy Statement”):

1. To elect the five (5) directors named in the proxy statement to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are elected and qualified (“Proposal One”);

2. To ratify the appointment of BPM LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2026 ending January 2, 2027 (“Proposal Two”);

3. To conduct an advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (“Proposal Three”); and

4. To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.

Stockholders at the close of business on April 17, 2026 shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The date of this proxy statement is April 24, 2026 and the Notice of Internet Availability (the “Internet Notice”) is being mailed on or about May 1, 2026 to stockholders of record as of April 17, 2026.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. The Internet Notice also provides instructions on how to vote via the Internet and how to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials by mail. The proxy statement and our annual report can be accessed directly atwww.proxyvote.com. All you have to do is enter the control number located on your Internet Notice or proxy card. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if he, she or it has previously voted using the Internet, telephone or proxy card. If you wish to attend the Annual Meeting to vote in person and need directions, please contact Investor Relations at (650) 940-4700 or investors@iridex.com.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING,WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING WE URGE YOU TOSUBMIT YOUR VOTE VIA THE INTERNET, TELEPHONE OR MAIL.