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IRIDEX Reports First Quarter 2008 Financial Results

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IRIDEX Corporation (Nasdaq: IRIX) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2008 ended March 29, 2008.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2008 was $11.5 million, an 8.7% decrease from the $12.6 million reported for the first quarter of 2007. The Company's net loss was $0.9 million or $0.10 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2008 compared with a net loss of $4.9 million or $0.61 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2007. The prior year financial results do include the AMS/Laserscope aesthetics acquisition, which was completed on January 16, 2007.

Ophthalmology revenues were $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared with $7.2 million in 2007, an increase of 4.8%. Domestic ophthalmology revenues increased 10.6% to $4.4 million. International ophthalmology revenues decreased 2.4% to $3.1 million. Ophthalmology recurring revenues, consisting of disposable products and service, represented 55.2% of our total ophthalmology revenues for the first 3 months in 2008 and 55.5% for the comparable period in 2007.

Total aesthetics revenues were $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2008 compared with $5.4 million in the comparable period of 2007, a decrease of 26.8%. In the first quarter 2008 domestic aesthetics revenues decreased $1.2 million to $1.5 million and international aesthetics revenues decreased $0.3 million to $2.4 million.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2008 was $4.8 million, compared with $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2007. Gross margins were 41.9% and 41.5%, respectively. Operating expenses for the first quarter 2008 were $5.5 million compared with $10.0 million for 2007.

Mr. Theodore A. Boutacoff, President and CEO stated, "Operationally we are progressing towards financial stability as demonstrated by the substantial reduction in our quarterly operating loss from $4.9 million to $0.9 million primarily due to reductions in operating expenses. During the first quarter we met our obligations with AMS by paying $1.7 million, leaving a balance related to the Settlement Agreement of $3.1 million which we plan to fully satisfy by the end of our third fiscal quarter. In addition, during the first quarter we successfully negotiated a new bank credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank that replaced our previously existing credit agreements. The new credit facility is an asset based revolving line that allows the Company to borrow up to $8 million.

"We continue to be encouraged by our improving ophthalmology revenues. The decrease in our aesthetics revenues is primarily due to the difficulties incurred in the U.S. distribution channel during 2007, which are still being experienced, coupled with the overall softening of the U.S. aesthetics market. A focus in 2008 is to establish a productive US aesthetics sales channel."

Cash and cash equivalents were $4.0 million as of March 29, 2008 down from $5.8 million in December 29, 2007 (this does not include $3.8 million in restricted cash). Inventories remained constant at $16.0 million as of March 29, 2008 as compared to December 29, 2007. Accounts receivable were $8.4 million as of March 29, 2008, compared to $8.9 million as of December 29, 2007.

Conference Call

IRIDEX management will conduct a conference call later today, Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may access the live conference call via telephone by dialing (800) 240-7305 (U.S.) or (303) 262-2130 (International), or by visiting the Company's website at www.iridex.com. A telephone replay will be available beginning on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 through Tuesday, May 20, 2008 by dialing (800) 405-2236 (U.S.) or (303) 590-3000 (International) and entering Passcode 11114278#. In addition, later today an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Company's website at http://www.iridex.com.

About IRIDEX

IRIDEX Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of therapeutic based laser systems, disposable laser probes and delivery devices to treat eye diseases in ophthalmology and skin disorders in the aesthetics market. IRIDEX products are sold in the United States through a direct sales force and internationally through a combination of a direct sales force and a network of approximately 100 independent distributors into 107 countries. For further information, visit the Company's website at http://www.iridex.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, relating to the Company's financial stability, growth strategy and prospects, ability to satisfy future financial obligations and continued improvement in our ophthalmology revenues. Please see a detailed description of these and other risks contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 29, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date and will not be updated.



                              IRIDEX Corporation
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                    (In thousands, except per share data)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                       Three Months Ended
                                                  March 29,          March 31,
                                                     2008              2007

    Sales                                          $11,474           $12,566
    Cost of sales                                    6,669             7,357
        Gross profit                                 4,805             5,209

    Operating expenses:
      Research and development                       1,025             1,729
      Sales, general and administrative              4,518             8,274
        Total operating expenses                     5,543            10,003

    Loss from operations                              (738)           (4,794)
      Interest and other (expense) income, net        (154)             (126)
    Loss before income taxes                          (892)           (4,920)
      Provision for income taxes                         -                 -
    Net loss                                         $(892)          $(4,920)


    Net loss per common share - basic               $(0.10)           $(0.61)
    Net loss per common share - diluted             $(0.10)           $(0.61)

    Shares used in per common share basic
     calculations                                    8,824             8,080
    Shares used in per common share
     diluted calculations                            8,824             8,080



                              IRIDEX Corporation
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                (In thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                  March 29,       December 29,
                                                     2008              2007
                   Assets                        (unaudited)
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                     $4,013            $5,809
      Restricted cash                                    -             3,800
      Accounts receivable, net                       8,440             8,876
      Inventories, net                              16,013            15,967
      Prepaids and other current assets              1,095             1,051
        Total current assets                        29,561            35,503
      Property and equipment, net                    1,481             1,621
      Goodwill                                       3,239             3,239
      Other intangible assets, net                   5,358             5,944
      Other long term assets                           282               347
        Total assets                               $39,921           $46,654


           Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts payable                              $4,404            $2,887
      Bank line of credit                            5,281             4,863
      Accrued compensation                           1,567             2,024
      Accrued expenses                               6,005             7,809
      Accrued warranty                               1,500             1,895
      Deferred revenue                               3,254             3,350
      Bank term loan-current portion                     -             5,016
        Total liabilities                           22,011            27,844

    Commitments and contingencies (Note 10).

    Stockholders' Equity:
      Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value:
       Authorized: 2,000,000 shares;
       Issued and outstanding: 500,000
       shares in 2008 and 2007                           5                 5
      Common Stock, $.01 par value:
       Authorized: 30,000,000 shares;
       Issued and outstanding: 8,824,301
       shares in 2008 and 2007                          89                89
      Additional paid-in capital                    38,727            38,695
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss            (128)              (88)
      Treasury stock, at cost                         (430)             (430)
      (Accumulated deficit) retained earnings      (20,353)          (19,461)
        Total stockholders' equity                  17,910            18,810
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                                    $39,921           $46,654

SOURCE IRIDEX Corporation
CONTACT: Jim Mackaness, Chief Financial Officer of IRIDEX Corporation, +1-650-940-4700
Web site: http://www.iridex.com