No definition available.

Name:	opht_CollaborationRevenueComponentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	opht_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of patient enrollment-based milestone revenue achieved by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	opht_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementAmountOfEnrollmentBasedMilestoneAchieved
Namespace Prefix:	opht_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of upfront fees received under the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	opht_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementUpfrontFeesReceived
Namespace Prefix:	opht_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the aggregate number of categories of milestones.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	opht_RevenueRecognitionNumberOfCategoriesOfMilestones
Namespace Prefix:	opht_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of consideration recognized during the period for the milestone or milestones.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 28

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=19771982&loc=SL6892177-166501

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodRevenueRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=opht_LicensingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=opht_ResearchAndDevelopmentActivitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=opht_ActivePharmaceuticalIngredientTransfersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=opht_NovartisPharmaAGMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersByTypeAxis=opht_LicensingAndCommercializationAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	opht_MilestoneEventsAxis=opht_AchievementOfSpecifiedPatientEnrollmentMilestonesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May. 19, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item
Components of collaboration revenue
Total collaboration revenue				$ 1,684	$ 39,575	$ 41,259
Number of categories for milestones \| item						3
License revenue
Components of collaboration revenue
Total collaboration revenue						$ 38,372
Research and development activity revenue
Components of collaboration revenue
Total collaboration revenue						2,004
API transfer revenue
Components of collaboration revenue
Total collaboration revenue						883
Novartis Pharma AG
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Upfront fees received			$ 200,000			200,000
Patient enrollment-based milestone revenue achieved		$ 50,000
Novartis Pharma AG \| Licensing and Commercialization Agreement
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Upfront fees received	$ 200,000
Novartis Pharma AG \| Licensing and Commercialization Agreement \| API transfer revenue
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Recognized revenues						900
Novartis Pharma AG \| Licensing and Commercialization Agreement \| Achievement of specified patient enrollment milestones
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Patient enrollment-based milestone revenue achieved		$ 50,000
Recognized revenues						41,300
Novartis Pharma AG \| Licensing and Commercialization Agreement \| Achievement of specified patient enrollment milestones \| License revenue
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Recognized revenues						38,400
Novartis Pharma AG \| Licensing and Commercialization Agreement \| Achievement of specified patient enrollment milestones \| Research and development activity revenue
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Recognized revenues						$ 2,000