Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 18, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36152
Entity Registrant Name	Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-3109565
Entity Address, Address Line One	4301 Emperor Boulevard,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Durham,
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	27703
City Area Code	919
Local Phone Number	237-5300
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	AERI
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 734,874,546
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,391,874
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity CIK	0001337553