Ear Wax Removal in Portlaoise by Micro-suction

Is this for you? Signs of ear wax build-up

Earwax is normal and protects the ear. It only becomes a problem when it builds up and blocks the ear canal. You might notice:

• A blocked or full feeling in one or both ears
• Muffled hearing, or hearing that has slowly got worse
• Itching, or an earache without an infection
• Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
• A hearing aid that whistles or does not sit right
• A blocked ear after a cold, swimming or flying

The HSE suggests trying olive oil drops for a few days first, and many ears clear on their own. If drops have not cleared it, or you need it sorted quickly, micro-suction ear cleaning is the next step. We stock Ultrapure olive oil drops (€5.95) for softening and maintenance.

Looking for ear syringing in Portlaoise? Why we use micro-suction instead

Manual syringing with a metal syringe is no longer recommended. The UK NICE guideline on hearing loss in adults (NG98, recommendation 1.2.2) says not to offer adults manual syringing to remove earwax, and the HSE lists water irrigation and microsuction as the standard ways of removing wax.

Micro-suction (also written microsuction or micro suction) removes wax under direct vision. We look into the ear canal with a small camera and lift the wax out with a fine, low pressure suction tip. No water goes into the ear, so there is nothing left behind to cause an infection, and we can see exactly what is being removed. ENT UK, the professional body for ear, nose and throat surgeons, describes micro-suction in its November 2024 clinical guidance as the method of choice for wax removal.

The HSE says neither method is usually painful. Micro-suction is noisy for a few seconds and a few people feel briefly dizzy or get a tickly cough, and we stop any time you ask.

Ear wax removal prices in Portlaoise: one clear price

€50 for both ears, €40 for one ear. That is the full price, with no consultation fee on top and nothing added on the day.

How the €20 booking fee works. You pay €20 by card when you book online and it comes off the price on the day, so in the pharmacy you pay €30 for both ears or €20 for one. If we find no wax, or we see something that needs your GP instead, the €20 covers your ear check and there is nothing more to pay.

What the price includes

• A check of your health and medicines before we start, with a pharmacist on site
• A look inside both ears on a screen, before and after, so you can see what we see
• Wax removal by micro-suction, with no water put into the ear
• Written aftercare advice to take home
• If very hard wax needs more softening, olive oil drops to use at home and a second visit within 14 days at no extra charge

Free reschedule or cancellation up to 24 hours before your appointment. Inside 24 hours, or if you do not attend, the booking fee is kept. Card and cash accepted in the pharmacy. All fees are also displayed in the pharmacy.

Before your appointment

Softening the wax makes removal quicker and more comfortable. The HSE advice is:

• Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up
• Put 2 to 3 drops of olive oil into the ear and stay lying down for 5 to 10 minutes
• Repeat 3 to 4 times a day for 3 to 5 days before your appointment
• Use medical grade olive oil drops rather than oil from the kitchen

Do not use drops if you have ear pain, discharge, a known perforated eardrum or grommets. Avoid almond oil drops if you have a nut allergy. If your appointment is sooner than three days away, come anyway and we will assess on the day.

Tell us when you book, or phone us first, if you have diabetes, take blood thinners, have high or low blood pressure, faint easily, get a tickly throat lying flat, wear hearing aids, or have had ear surgery in the past. None of these necessarily rules you out, but we need to know.

When micro-suction is not suitable: see your GP instead

Please do not book, and see your GP instead, if you have:

• A sudden drop in hearing in the last 30 days (this needs a GP, an ENT service or the emergency department within 24 hours, not a wax appointment)
• Ear pain, discharge or a current ear infection
• A known perforated eardrum or grommets
• Previous ear surgery
• Dizziness or balance problems, or bleeding from the ear
• Only one hearing ear

The service is for people aged 16 and over. A parent or guardian comes with anyone aged 16 or 17. Under 16s should see their GP. If we see anything that needs a doctor, we stop, explain what we have seen and write to your GP.

What happens on the day

• A few questions and a consent form. We check the answers you gave when you booked and explains what will happen.
• We look inside both ears. A small video endoscope shows the ear canal and eardrum on a screen, so you can see what we see.
• The wax is removed. A fine, low pressure suction tip lifts the wax out. It is loud for a few seconds, and a brief cough reflex or a moment of dizziness is normal. You can ask us to stop at any point.
• We check again and send you home with aftercare. Both ears are checked on screen afterwards and you get a written aftercare leaflet.

The removal itself takes from a few seconds to about 20 minutes depending on the wax. The appointment is 30 minutes in our private consultation room.

Who will see you

Your ear wax removal is carried out here in the pharmacy by our own Laois Pharmacy team.

Our superintendent pharmacist, Sarah Cronin MPSI, looks after the service. Laois Pharmacy is registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and has been part of Portlaoise since 1987.

Why have it done in a pharmacy?

Ear wax removal is offered by many kinds of clinic. Having it done at Laois Pharmacy, with a pharmacist on site for every appointment, makes a practical difference:

• We know your medicines. Blood thinners, diabetes, blood pressure tablets and ear drops all matter for ear care. We check them with you before we start.
• Everything in one visit. If you need olive oil drops, an ear infection looked at, or advice on hearing, you are already in the right place.
• Honest about what you need. If there is no wax, we tell you, show you on screen and point you to the right next step. You only pay the €20 ear check.
• Clear prices. €50 for both ears, €40 for one. No consultation fee on top, nothing added on the day.
• A PSI registered pharmacy with a private consultation room, open six days a week, in the centre of Portlaoise since 1987.

Risks and side effects, in plain English

Micro-suction is well established and most people have no problems. ENT UK’s 2024 guidance gives these estimates, based on clinical experience, and we go through them with you before you consent:

• A minor graze to the ear canal: about 1 in 20
• Brief, severe dizziness: about 1 in 200
• Temporary ringing in the ear: about 1 in 100
• Temporary change in hearing: about 1 in 100
• Infection after a graze: about 1 in 500
• Injury to the eardrum: fewer than 1 in 10,000

The suction is loud. Ears can feel muffled or odd for a few hours and most people are back to normal within 24 hours, so allow a day before any hearing test. If removal becomes uncomfortable we stop, send you home with drops and see you again a few days later rather than forcing it.

Aftercare and when to see your GP

• Clean only the outer ear with a dry cloth. No cotton buds.
• If the canal was grazed or feels itchy, keep water out of the ear for 24 hours.
• Hearing aid users: wash your moulds before putting them back in.
• Contact your GP or the out of hours service if you get pain, bleeding, discharge, dizziness or a sudden drop in hearing after your visit.
• If you are prone to wax, a check every 6 to 12 months keeps on top of it. Regular olive oil drops can help in between.

Coming from outside Portlaoise

You do not need to live in Portlaoise, or have a GP referral, to book. The pharmacy is at Lyster Square in Portlaoise town centre, and with the M7 and M8 close by it is an easy drive from much of Laois and the neighbouring counties. These are rough drive times outside rush hour:

Appointments run Monday to Saturday, 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm, so you can pick a time that suits the drive. To make the most of the trip, use olive oil drops for 3 to 5 days before you come so the wax is softer and easier to remove.

Book your appointment

Find us

Laois Pharmacy, 1 Dunamaise House, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 HD72. Ear wax appointments run Monday to Saturday, 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm, in our private consultation room. The pharmacy is open Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm and Sat 9.30am to 6pm. Phone 057 866 1999 or WhatsApp 085 840 7548.

We are in Portlaoise town centre, a few minutes from the M7 and M8, with town centre car parks close by.

Further reading from our pharmacists

• Olive oil for ear wax: what the HSE advises and how to use drops properly
• Micro-suction vs ear syringing: what is the difference?
• Blocked ear after a cold, swimming or flying: is it wax?
• Cotton buds, ear candles and ear vacuums: why they make ear wax worse
• Ear wax and hearing aids: why regular checks matter
• Is ear wax removal covered by the medical card, Vhi, Laya or Irish Life Health?
• What happens at a micro-suction ear wax appointment? A step by step guide