Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	COMMON STOCK	ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	ACCUMULATED DEFICIT	ACCUMULATED DEFICIT Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			36,947,637
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 135,599	$ (2,122)	$ 37	$ 597,318	$ (28)	$ (461,728)	$ (2,122)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock, net of commissions and expenses (in shares)			2,313,824
Issuance of common stock, net of commissions and expenses of $1,345	136,445		$ 2	136,443
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights (in shares)			34,193
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights	1,401			1,401
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares)			597,777
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants	4,251		$ 1	4,250
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net (in shares)			216,005
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net	(2,172)			(2,172)
Stock-based compensation	38,862			38,862
Issuance of shares upon conversion of 2014 Convertible Notes (in shares)			5,369,447
Issuance of shares upon conversion of 2014 Convertible Notes	148,083		$ 5	148,078
Other comprehensive income (loss)	28				28
Net loss	(232,569)					(232,569)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			45,478,883
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 227,806		$ 45	924,180	0	(696,419)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	aeri:AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights (in shares)			42,611
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights	$ 979			979
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares)			612,759
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants	3,140			3,140
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net (in shares)			330,416
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net	(2,629)		$ 1	(2,630)
Stock-based compensation	45,551			45,551
Equity component of Convertible Notes, net of issuance costs of $3,725	124,666			124,666
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(92)				(92)
Payment for capped call share options	(32,890)			(32,890)
Net loss	(199,581)				0	(199,581)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			46,464,669
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2019	166,950		$ 46	1,062,996	(92)	(896,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights (in shares)			60,857
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock purchase rights	$ 724			724
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants (in shares)	58,676		51,333
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants	$ 172		$ 1	171
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net (in shares)			244,785
Issuance of common stock for restricted stock awards, net	(1,754)			(1,754)
Stock-based compensation	40,937			40,937
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40				40
Net loss	(183,101)					(183,101)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			46,821,644
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 23,968		$ 47	$ 1,103,074	$ (52)	$ (1,079,101)