EAR DROPS There are two types:- (1) Oil or glycerol based; and (2) Antibiotic or Antibiotic/Steroid combination. The former is used entirely as a wax softener. For small wax 3 - 4 drops daily followed by swabbing with cotton buds is recommended. For hard, impacted wax use twice daily for a week followed by syringing. The latter type is used in otitis externa and media if there is no perforation of the ear drum. N.B. Ear drops are contraindicated in traumatic perforation of the ear drum. (It acts as a vehicle for infection to the sterile middle ear cavity via the perforation). EYE DROPS Steroid Eye Drops Care must be taken when using Steroid or Steroid/antibiotic mixture eye drops. Use may cause:- (1) Greatly enhanced Herpes virus (dendritic ulcers) resulting in loss of eye. (2) Steroid induced glaucoma. (3) Steroid induce cataract. Therefore before use it is necessary to perform:- (1) Magnified examination of the cornea. (2) Measurement of the intraocular pressure. In other words steroid eye drops can be dangerous without specialist ophthalmic examination.
