[When do ear drops help, when are they harmful?]

Current knowledge concerning the use of eardrops is discussed under clinical and pharmacological aspects. The role of topical ear drops as a possible cause of ototoxicity is reviewed. Although experimental data confirm the presence of ototoxicity due to topical ear drops, the clinical relevance still remains debatable. The fact that currently used ear drops may produce a sensorineural hearing loss should not be ignored.