3 ms·

The thing to do is to get one of these fiber optic endoscopes: https://youtu.be/cl3yX7-f-4U?t=10 https://youtu.be/cl3yX7-f-4U?t=10 Yeah, it looks silly, but it'

The thing to do is to get one of these fiber optic endoscopes: https://youtu.be/cl3yX7-f-4U?t=10 https://youtu.be/cl3yX7-f-4U?t=10 Yeah, it looks silly, but it's by far the best solution. I've been using one for years after I had to get wax removed at the doctor once. Never had a problem since. The problem with using Q-Tips is you can't see what you're doing, so you can push the wax farther in and even rupture your eardrum easily. With the endoscope you can see perfectly, and avoid damaging your eardrum while being sure that you got all the wax. The ear drops sold for wax removal in stores don't work any better than plain water [1]. The process of flushing your ear with a syringe or squeeze bulb is unpleasant, loud, and carries a risk of rupturing your eardrum just as Q-Tips do. And you still can't see if you got all the wax out. Endoscopes are the way to go. [1] https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2/full https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD...

midjji 5y ago
Sometimes they work far worse than water, they can cause a very thin hard film to coat the eardrum which is almost impossible to get rid of, and which can get infected. Finally got a usb ear cam with a scraper to remove it, but it was weeks and it got bad enough they prescribed antibiotic for the ear infection but still refused to just remove wax block. They argued it was too infected so they couldnt see what was infected and what was earwax... idiots, its not like it matters. I scraped away the pus and the wax and the infection healed in a single day. Ever since I remove the earwax block with a cam scraper once a year or so and never had the kinds of ear problems I used to again.
peterburkimsher 5y ago
Is your endoscope one that has its own screen, or one that plugs into a laptop? Hackaday published a blog post about using earwax microscopes for SMD soldering: https://hackaday.com/2019/11/11/review-ear-wax-cleaning-cameras-as-cheap-microscopes-we-take-a-closer-look/ https://hackaday.com/2019/11/11/review-ear-wax-cleaning-came...
- modeless 5y ago
  Neither. A fiber optic endoscope does not need a camera or a screen. It's purely optical. No electronics, zero latency.
Hackbraten 5y ago
I agree. Bought a USB-based one from Aliexpress for 10 EUR last year. It took lots of practice to master though, and I had to be extremely cautious during the first few months. But it was worth the trouble. Never going to go back.
afarviral 5y ago
I've been using a metal earpick for about the last 4 years every couple of days. I'm very gentle and have a very heightened awareness of the inside of my ears and don't believe I will ever rupture or harm my inner ear or eardrum. I've never had blocked ears or a bad ear infection I just enjoy the ... Ermm... Excavation process. Okay, it might be bordering on something akin to dermatillomania. Didn't even know these cams were a thing, but I've always wanted to see what I'm doing to really find the gold.
- paulcole 5y ago
  > don't believe I will ever rupture or harm my inner ear or eardrum Has anyone who's ever harmed their inner ear or ear drum not thought this beforehand?
  - afarviral 5y ago
    Too true... I have a strong suspicion that a specific person with the right technique isn't necessarily at any risk, that more harm would come to more people if it was encouraged en mass. I do sometimes worry I'll get a startle and stab my inner ear.

midjji 5y ago

Sometimes they work far worse than water, they can cause a very thin hard film to coat the eardrum which is almost impossible to get rid of, and which can get infected. Finally got a usb ear cam with a scraper to remove it, but it was weeks and it got bad enough they prescribed antibiotic for the ear infection but still refused to just remove wax block. They argued it was too infected so they couldnt see what was infected and what was earwax... idiots, its not like it matters. I scraped away the pus and the wax and the infection healed in a single day. Ever since I remove the earwax block with a cam scraper once a year or so and never had the kinds of ear problems I used to again.

peterburkimsher 5y ago

Is your endoscope one that has its own screen, or one that plugs into a laptop? Hackaday published a blog post about using earwax microscopes for SMD soldering: https://hackaday.com/2019/11/11/review-ear-wax-cleaning-cameras-as-cheap-microscopes-we-take-a-closer-look/ https://hackaday.com/2019/11/11/review-ear-wax-cleaning-came...

modeless 5y ago
Neither. A fiber optic endoscope does not need a camera or a screen. It's purely optical. No electronics, zero latency.

Hackbraten 5y ago

I agree. Bought a USB-based one from Aliexpress for 10 EUR last year. It took lots of practice to master though, and I had to be extremely cautious during the first few months. But it was worth the trouble. Never going to go back.

afarviral 5y ago

I've been using a metal earpick for about the last 4 years every couple of days. I'm very gentle and have a very heightened awareness of the inside of my ears and don't believe I will ever rupture or harm my inner ear or eardrum. I've never had blocked ears or a bad ear infection I just enjoy the ... Ermm... Excavation process. Okay, it might be bordering on something akin to dermatillomania. Didn't even know these cams were a thing, but I've always wanted to see what I'm doing to really find the gold.

paulcole 5y ago
> don't believe I will ever rupture or harm my inner ear or eardrum Has anyone who's ever harmed their inner ear or ear drum not thought this beforehand?
- afarviral 5y ago
  Too true... I have a strong suspicion that a specific person with the right technique isn't necessarily at any risk, that more harm would come to more people if it was encouraged en mass. I do sometimes worry I'll get a startle and stab my inner ear.