1. A method for performing an identity search in a database of iris images for a probe iris image, comprising: generating a full-length iris code and a compact iris code for iris images stored in a computer readable storage medium in a database; generating a full-length iris code and a compact iris code for a probe iris image; scoring the compact iris code for the probe image against all compact iris codes in the database; retaining a fraction of the database based on score data; and scoring the full length iris code for the probe image against all the full length iris codes associated with the compact iris codes in the retained portion of the database.