Share Capital - Stock Options - Additional Information 2 (Detail)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 25, 2013 Prior to Amendment and Restatement of QLT 2000 Incentive Stock Plan [Member]	Apr. 25, 2013 Amendment and Restatement of QLT 2000 Incentive Stock Plan [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Plan		11,800,000		11,800,000			7,800,000	11,800,000
Additional common shares issued under Plan	4,000,000
Stock options granted		0	0	0	0
Stock options exercisable		688,072		688,072		257,332
Unvested stock options		586,816		586,816		1,150,197
Exercise of stock options		104,044	0	104,044	1,183,952