Note 20 - Reportable Segments - Selected Financial Information On Product Lines and Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Net sales	$ 2,476,000	$ 2,507,000	$ 2,360,000	$ 2,047,000	$ 2,231,000	$ 2,272,000	$ 2,343,000	$ 2,265,000	$ 9,390,000	[1]	$ 9,111,000	[1]	$ 9,715,000	[1]
Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales									9,390,000		9,111,000		9,715,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Display Technologies [Member]
Net sales									3,238,000		3,086,000		3,851,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Optical Communications [Member]
Net sales									3,005,000		2,980,000		2,652,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Optical Communications [Member] | Carrier Network [Member]
Net sales									2,274,000		2,194,000		2,036,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Optical Communications [Member] | Enterprise Network [Member]
Net sales									731,000		786,000		616,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member]
Net sales									1,032,000		1,053,000		1,092,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member] | Automotive and Other [Member]
Net sales									585,000		528,000		528,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Environmental Technologies [Member] | Diesel [Member]
Net sales									447,000		525,000		564,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member]
Net sales									1,124,000		1,107,000		1,205,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member] | Corning Gorilla Glass [Member]
Net sales									807,000		810,000		846,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Materials [Member] | Advanced Optics And Other Specialty Glass [Member]
Net sales									317,000		297,000		359,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Sciences [Member]
Net sales									839,000		821,000		862,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Sciences [Member] | Labware [Member]
Net sales									512,000		512,000		536,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Life Sciences [Member] | Cell Culture Products [Member]
Net sales									327,000		309,000		326,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Net sales									$ 152,000		$ 64,000		$ 53,000

[1] Net sales are attributed to countries based on location of customer.