SEGMENT INFORMATION - Segment Revenues and Profit (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment reporting information
Revenues		$ 2,012,000,000	$ 2,016,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets		(436,000,000)	(489,000,000)
Goodwill impairments	$ 0	0	0
Asset impairments		(14,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Restructuring and integration costs		(4,000,000)	(20,000,000)
Acquisition-related contingent consideration		(13,000,000)	21,000,000
Other (expense) income, net		(23,000,000)	3,000,000
Operating income		248,000,000	287,000,000
Interest income		7,000,000	4,000,000
Interest expense		(396,000,000)	(406,000,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(24,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Foreign exchange and other		(13,000,000)	0
Loss before benefit from income taxes		(178,000,000)	(122,000,000)
Bausch Lomb/International
Segment reporting information
Revenues		1,114,000,000	1,118,000,000
Salix
Segment reporting information
Revenues		477,000,000	445,000,000
Ortho Dermatologics
Segment reporting information
Revenues		133,000,000	138,000,000
Diversified Products
Segment reporting information
Revenues		288,000,000	315,000,000
Operating Segment
Segment reporting information
Revenues		2,012,000,000	2,016,000,000
Operating income		894,000,000	900,000,000
Operating Segment | Bausch Lomb/International
Segment reporting information
Revenues		1,114,000,000	1,118,000,000
Operating income		325,000,000	319,000,000
Operating Segment | Salix
Segment reporting information
Revenues		477,000,000	445,000,000
Operating income		319,000,000	288,000,000
Operating Segment | Ortho Dermatologics
Segment reporting information
Revenues		133,000,000	138,000,000
Operating income		48,000,000	57,000,000
Operating Segment | Diversified Products
Segment reporting information
Revenues		288,000,000	315,000,000
Operating income		202,000,000	236,000,000
Corporate
Segment reporting information
Operating income		$ (156,000,000)	$ (125,000,000)