Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Accumulated Deficit	Comprehensive Loss
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 404,454	$ 506,023	$ 275,592	$ 102,969		$ (480,130)	$ 0
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		53,789,289
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share, shares		265,585
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share	910	1,243	(333)
Stock-based compensation	2,365		2,365
Common share repurchase, shares		(2,900,482)
Common share repurchase	(17,246)	(27,268)	10,022
Net loss	(17,539)					(17,539)	(17,539)
Comprehensive loss							(17,539)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	372,944	479,998	287,646	102,969		(497,669)	0
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	51,154,392	51,154,392
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share, shares		138,883
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share	714	1,002	(288)
Stock-based compensation	955		955
Common share repurchase, shares		(533,500)
Common share repurchase	(3,675)	(5,006)	1,331
Net loss	(8,549)					(8,549)	(8,549)
Comprehensive loss							(8,549)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	362,389	475,994	289,644	102,969		(506,218)	0
Ending Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2011		50,759,775
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share, shares		196,996
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share	1,066	1,504	(438)
Stock-based compensation	688		688
Common share repurchase, shares		(1,006,572)
Common share repurchase	(7,136)	(9,436)	2,300
Net loss	(6,145)					(6,145)	(6,145)
Comprehensive loss							(6,145)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	350,862	468,062	292,194	102,969		(512,363)	0
Ending Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2011		49,950,199
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share, shares		42,556
Exercise of stock options, for cash, at prices ranging from CAD $2.44 to CAD $6.27 per share	188	264	(76)
Stock-based compensation	681		681
Common share repurchase, shares		(629,445)
Common share repurchase	(4,523)	(5,897)	1,374
Net loss	(9,106)					(9,106)	(9,106)
Comprehensive loss							(9,106)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 338,102	$ 462,429	$ 294,173	$ 102,969	[1]	$ (521,469)	$ 0
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2011	49,363,310	49,363,310

[1] At September 30, 2011 our accumulated other comprehensive income is entirely related to historical cumulative translation adjustments from the application of U.S. dollar reporting when the functional currency of QLT Inc. was the Canadian dollar.