<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-02-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000024741</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORNING INC /NY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001930559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Amin Jaymin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RIVERFRONT PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORNING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14831</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Chief Tech. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeHolding>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trustee u/Employee Benefit Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                    <value>3636</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Share Unit</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <value>2024-02-07</value>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>69</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each performance share unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Corning Incorporated common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Ownership is represented by units held in a unitized stock fund through the issuer's 401(k) retirement plan as of January 31, 2024.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Performance share units (PSUs) were earned February 7, 2024 per Compensation Committee decision that performance criteria were satisfied for fiscal year 2023 pursuant to the 2023 agreement. Earned PSUs remain restricted until April 15, 2026, when they vest and convert to common stock, subject to service-based vesting requirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Performance share units (PSUs) were earned February 7, 2024 per Compensation Committee decision that performance criteria were satisfied for fiscal year 2023 pursuant to the 2022 agreement. Earned PSUs remain restricted until April 15, 2025, when they vest and convert to common stock, subject to service-based vesting requirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Performance share units (PSUs) were earned February 7, 2024 per Compensation Committee decision that performance criteria were satisfied for fiscal year 2023 pursuant to the 2021 agreement. Earned PSUs remain restricted until April 15, 2024, when they vest and convert to common stock, subject to service-based vesting requirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Vesting to satisfy tax requirement pursuant to the 2023 agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Vesting to satisfy tax requirement pursuant to the 2022 agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Vesting to satisfy tax requirement pursuant to the 2021 agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Linda E. Jolly, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-02-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
