Stock-based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) plan shares	Sep. 30, 2014 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of equity compensation plans \| plan	2
Stock-based awards, shares granted	1,081,000
Restricted stock, shares issued	99,027	0
2013 Omnibus incentive plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Equity awards	5,729,068
Stock-based awards, shares granted	1,081,000	1,211,700
2005 Aerie Pharmaceutical stock plan and 2013 omnibus incentive plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense \| $	$ 26.9
Compensation cost, weighted average recognition period	2 years 7 months
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual life	8 years 1 month
Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense \| $	$ 2.0
Restricted stock awards, weighted average remaining contractual term	3 years 1 month
Restricted stock, shares issued	99,027
Restricted stock \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based awards, vesting period	2 years
Restricted stock \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based awards, vesting period	4 years

Number of equity compensation plans.

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 2

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- Definition

Weighted average remaining contractual term for equity-based awards excluding options, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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