Acquisition (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	May 12, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Effective date of merger	Dec. 13, 2011
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	20,376,245			21,043,947
Goodwill	$ 24,048			$ 24,930
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)		19,347,554
Restricted stock, outstanding or deemed to be outstanding (in shares)		476,436
Goodwill		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

[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.