A grommet ear is a term used to describe a condition where a small tube, called a grommet, is inserted into the eardrum to prevent a build-up of fluid in the middle ear. Grommets are also called tympanostomy or ventilation tubes. They are needed if someone has a lot of ear infections that have caused ‘glue ear’ . Glue ear occurs when the liquid inside the ear becomes thick, often due to repeated ear infections. Grommets are tiny tubes that are put inside the eardrums by a doctor, and they can be made of plastic or metal. They let air go into the middle ear and help thick fluid to drain away down the back of the nose and throat. Grommets are inserted through a day surgery procedure called a myringotomy, which is most often done under a surgical microscope with a small scalpel. The procedure is done in a hospital under general anaesthetic. Grommets usually fall out by themselves after 6 to 12 months.