Myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion is an accepted and frequently practiced technique in the ENT outpatient department. However, a wide variety of local anesthetic techniques is used. This includes local infiltration anesthesia, topically applied agents and iontophoresis. Sometimes no anesthesia is used at all : Producing good local anesthesia of the external auditory meatus and tympanic membrane has always been a difficult problem facing otologists. Previously used methods are mentioned and the use of a new eutectic mixture of local anesthetics(EMLA) for myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion in adults and older children is described. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of this new product by comparing it anesthetic effect with that of iontophoresis. This study showed EMLA to be a very effective, safe and convenient preparation for outpatient otological use.