SEGMENT INFORMATION - Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 39,974	$ 43,529
Operating Segment
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	39,235	43,164
Operating Segment | Bausch Lomb/International
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	15,608	16,201
Operating Segment | Branded Rx
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	18,455	21,143
Operating Segment | U.S. Diversified Products
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	5,172	5,820
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 739	$ 365