The Company (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 Channel	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Number of distribution channels	2
Period of sales deferred	14 days
Derivatives [Abstract]
Balance of derivative instruments	$ 468,000
Amount recognized as financing income	206,000
Notional amounts of foreign currency derivatives	7,200,000
Activity in warranty accrual [Roll Forward]
Accrual at beginning of year	761,000	1,151,000
Additions charged to warranty expense	271,000	256,000
Expiring warranties	(102,000)	(69,000)
Claims satisfied	(116,000)	(247,000)
Total	814,000	1,091,000
Less: current portion	(673,000)	(1,021,000)	(665,000)
Accrued extended warranty	141,000	70,000
Weighted-average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding [Abstract]
Basic number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	19,794,210	18,719,419
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants (in shares)	0	0
Diluted number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	19,794,210	18,719,419
Common stock options and warrants excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	3,563,503	2,444,016
Fee Payment Each Month For May and June 2015 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Lenders fee	750,000
Fee Payment Each Month For July Through September 2015 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Lenders fee	1,000,000
Fee Payment Each Month For October Through December 2015 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Lenders fee	1,250,000
Fee Payment Each Month For January Through March 2016 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Lenders fee	1,500,000
Senior-Secured Credit Facilities [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	85,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	10,000,000
Term Loan [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	75,000,000
Term loan period	4 years
Prepayments on term loan	125,000
Minimum amount of cash specified against payment of revolving loans	5,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Warranty on Product Sales [Line Items]
Period of warranty on product sales	1 year
Extended period of warranty on domestic sale of laser equipment	3 years
Maximum [Member]
Warranty on Product Sales [Line Items]
Period of warranty on product sales	2 years
Extended period of warranty on domestic sale of laser equipment	4 years
Maximum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Outstanding principal amount	10,000,000
Forbearance Agreement [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Possible increase in interest (in hundredths)	2.00%
Maximum capital expenditures on medical devices	100,000
Lenders fee	500,000
Prepayments on term loan	250,000
Percentage of exceeded cash on hand to be paid against revolving loans (in hundredths)	100.00%
Minimum amount of cash specified against payment of revolving loans	7,000,000
Percentage of accrued and earned lender's fee for remaining period (in hundredths)	50.00%
Forbearance Agreement [Member] | CB Floating Rate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Effective interest rate (in hundredths)	4.00%
LCA Vision Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of shares acquired by wholly-owned subsidiary (in hundredths)	100.00%			100.00%
Effective date of merger	May 12, 2014
Cash consideration from sale of business				40,000,000
Net proceeds realized from sale of business				$ 37,700,000