Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 118,521		$ 307,384		$ 205,597	$ 209,478
Accounts receivable	4,590		3,960
Contingent consideration	36,600
Restricted cash			7,500
Laser Earn-Out Payment [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable	4,000	[1]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	118,521		307,384
Contingent consideration		[2]		[2]
Total	118,521		314,884
Restricted cash			7,500
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Laser Earn-Out Payment [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable		[3]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Contingent consideration		[2]		[2]
Total
Restricted cash
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Laser Earn-Out Payment [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable		[3]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Contingent consideration	36,582	[2]	76,409	[2]
Total	40,582		76,409
Restricted cash
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Laser Earn-Out Payment [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable	4,000	[3]
Carrying Value [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	118,521		307,384
Contingent consideration	36,582	[2]	76,409	[2]
Total	159,103		391,293
Restricted cash			7,500
Carrying Value [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Laser Earn-Out Payment [Member]
Assets:
Accounts receivable	$ 4,000	[3]

[1] Accounts receivable relates to a milestone payment owing from Valeant related to the receipt of the premarket approval application ("PMA") supplement for the Qcellus laser from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") on September 26, 2013. Refer to Note 10 - Contingent Consideration and Note 12 - Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale for more information.

[2] To estimate the fair value of contingent consideration we use a discounted cash flow model based on estimated timing and amount of future cash flows. As at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we discounted the future cash flows using cost of capital rates of 9% and 8%, respectively, for the contingent consideration related to Eligard. Cost of capital rates were selected based on available market and industry information. Future cash flows were estimated by utilizing external market research to estimate market size, to which we applied market share, pricing and foreign exchange assumptions based on historical sales data, expected competition and current exchange rates. If the discount rate were to increase by 1%, the contingent consideration related to the sale of QLT USA would decrease by $0.2 million, from $36.6 million to $36.4 million. If estimated future sales of Eligard were to decrease by 10%, the contingent consideration related to the sale of QLT USA would decrease by $0.3 million, from $36.6 million to $36.3 million.

[3] In 2013, the estimated $4.0 million fair value of the Laser Earn-Out Payment was reclassified from contingent consideration to accounts receivable. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the fair value of the Laser Earn-Out Payment was determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a cost of capital rate of 3.5%. For additional discussion, refer to Note 10 - Contingent Consideration.