Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Shares [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 372,944	$ 479,998	$ 287,646	$ (497,669)	$ 102,969	[1]
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2010		51,154,392
Exercise of stock options, for cash	2,295	3,226	(931)
Exercise of stock options, for cash, shares	451,867	451,867
Stock-based compensation	3,021		3,021
Common share repurchase	(18,839)	(25,106)	6,267
Common share repurchase, Shares	(2,678,517)	(2,678,517)
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	(30,416)			(30,416)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	329,005	458,118	296,003	(528,085)	102,969	[1]
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2011		48,927,742
Exercise of stock options, for cash	21,409	29,666	(8,257)
Exercise of stock options, for cash, shares	4,408,867	4,408,867
Stock-based compensation	5,902		5,902
Common share repurchase	(13,696)	(16,072)	2,376
Common share repurchase, Shares	(1,747,204)	(1,747,204)
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	45,698			45,698
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	388,318	471,712	296,024	(482,387)	102,969	[1]
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012	51,589,405	51,589,405
Exercise of stock options, for cash	7,217	9,978	(2,761)
Exercise of stock options, for cash, shares	1,183,952	1,183,952
Stock-based compensation	567		567
Restricted stock compensation	32		32
Common share repurchase	(13,479)	(15,461)	1,982
Common share repurchase, Shares	(1,691,479)	(1,691,479)
Cash distribution to common shareholders at $3.92 per share (Note 8 (b))	(200,000)		(200,000)
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)	(24,871)			(24,871)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 157,784	$ 466,229	$ 95,844	$ (507,258)	$ 102,969	[1]
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013	51,081,878	51,081,878

[1] At December 31, 2013, 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. See Note 3 - Significant Accounting Policies.