Note 10 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Balance		$ 1,380,000		$ 1,150,000
Acquired goodwill (1)		205,000	[1]	307,000	[2]
Measurement period adjustment		(4,000)		(7,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(4,000)		(41,000)
Other (2)	[3]			(29,000)
Balance		1,577,000		1,380,000
Display Technologies [Member]
Balance		128,000		134,000
Acquired goodwill (1)			[1]		[2]
Measurement period adjustment
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(2,000)		(6,000)
Other (2)	[3]
Balance		126,000		128,000
Optical Communications [Member]
Balance		439,000		238,000
Acquired goodwill (1)		205,000	[1]	220,000	[2]
Measurement period adjustment		(4,000)		(7,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		5,000		(12,000)
Other (2)	[3]
Balance		645,000		439,000
Specialty Materials [Member]
Balance		150,000		198,000
Acquired goodwill (1)			[1]	0	[2]
Measurement period adjustment				0
Foreign currency translation adjustment				(4,000)
Other (2)	[3]			(44,000)
Balance		150,000		150,000
Life Sciences [Member]
Balance		562,000		580,000
Acquired goodwill (1)			[1]	0	[2]
Measurement period adjustment				0
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(4,000)		(18,000)
Other (2)	[3]
Balance		558,000		562,000
Other Segments [Member]
Balance		101,000
Acquired goodwill (1)			[1]	87,000	[2]
Measurement period adjustment				0
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(3,000)		(1,000)
Other (2)	[3]			15,000
Balance		$ 98,000		$ 101,000

[1] The Company completed two acquisitions in the Optical Communications segment during the year ended December 31, 2016 with total purchase price of $356 million.

[2] The Company completed four acquisitions in the Optical Communications segment during the first quarter of 2015 and one acquisition that is being reported in All Other in the fourth quarter of 2015. Refer to Note 8 (Acquisitions) to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these acquisitions.

[3] In the fourth quarter of 2015, Corning made a change to the internal reporting structure related to a small acquisition in 2014 originally recorded in the Specialty Materials segment, which is now being reported in All Other. Additionally, a charge of $29 million for the impairment of goodwill related to this acquisition was recorded in the fourth quarter.