<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-03-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001337553</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AERI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001918982</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lang Peter Frederick</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4301 EMPEROR BLVD., SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DURHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27703</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>No securities are beneficially owned.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John LaRocca, Attorney-In-Fact for Peter F. Lang</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
