SEGMENT INFORMATION - Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 41,733	$ 43,529
Operating Segment
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	40,765	43,164
Operating Segment | Bausch Lomb/International
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	16,129	16,201
Operating Segment | Branded Rx
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	19,407	21,143
Operating Segment | U.S. Diversified Products
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	5,229	5,820
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 968	$ 365