Acquisition of LCA-Vision Inc (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 LCA Vision Inc [Member]		May 12, 2014 LCA Vision Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Effective date of merger					May 12, 2014
Percentage of shares acquired by wholly-owned subsidiary (in hundredths)							100.00%
Fair value LCA-Vision stock					$ 103,896	[1]
Fair value of LCA-Vision restricted stock units, including payroll taxes					2,656	[2]
Total purchase price					106,552
Common Stock, outstanding (in shares)		19,049,582		18,903,245			19,347,554
Restricted stock, outstanding or deemed to be outstanding (in shares)							476,436
Goodwill		74,282		24,930			49,582
Fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents							29,042
Current assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents							6,114
Deferred tax asset, current							1,124
Property, plant and equipment							17,269
Identifiable intangible assets							39,050
Other assets							1,518
Total assets acquired at fair value							94,117
Current liabilities							(19,009)
Long-term debt							(1,603)
Deferred tax liability, long-term							(9,138)
Other long-term liabilities							(7,397)
Total liabilities assumed							(37,147)
Net assets acquired							56,970
Summarized combined result after giving effect acquisition adjustments [Abstract]
Net revenues	66,549	190,479	232,743
Net income (loss)	$ (2,234)	$ (31,690)	$ 10,347
Net income (loss) per share: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (1.69)	$ 0.50
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (1.69)	$ 0.49
Shares used in calculating net income (loss) per share [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	19,982,967	18,722,459	20,518,493
Diluted (in shares)	20,441,262	18,722,459	20,976,788

[1] Based on 19,347,554 outstanding shares of LCA-Vision common stock at May 12, 2014.

[2] Based on 476,436 outstanding or deemed to be outstanding restricted stock units of LCA-Vision common stock at May 12, 2014.