Eardrum perforation, also known clinically as tympanic membrane perforation, has two common causes: trauma and otitis media. For traumatic tympanic membrane perforation, the first thing you need to do is to keep the ear canal absolutely clean and dry to avoid infection; you should never use ear drops at this time, let alone water or humidity; most patients will heal on their own in about 20-30 days. Of course, if a traumatic tympanic membrane perforation inadvertently becomes infected and there is purulent discharge, ear drops can be used at this time. For acute purulent otitis media resulting in tympanic membrane perforation, ear drops should be used in a timely manner, and commonly used are levofloxacin hydrochloride ear drops. For tympanic membrane perforation in the quiescent stage of chronic otitis media, ear drops are generally not needed.