OME

Medical abbreviation · Ophthalmology & ENT

OME
Stands forOtitis media with effusion
CategoriesMedical

OME stands for Otitis media with effusion, an ophthalmology & ENT abbreviation.

Fluid in the middle ear without signs of acute infection, often lingering after an ear infection or a cold. It may cause muffled hearing and fullness but usually no pain, and most cases clear on their own within three months.

Example: Bilateral OME for 4 months with 30 dB conductive loss; tympanostomy tubes recommended.

Usage notes

Also called serous or secretory otitis media, or "glue ear" in British usage. Guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology advise watchful waiting for three months and recommend against antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines and decongestants. Persistent fluid with hearing loss or speech delay may warrant tubes. Tympanometry shows a flat (type B) tracing.

More ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations

  • NPDR – Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • NTG – Normal-tension glaucoma
  • OAE – Otoacoustic emissions
  • OCT – Optical coherence tomography
  • OE – Otitis externa
  • OM – Otitis media
  • PACG – Primary angle-closure glaucoma
  • PCO – Posterior capsule opacification
  • PD – Pupillary distance
  • PDR – Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
  • PND – Postnasal drip
  • POAG – Primary open-angle glaucoma

See all 74 ophthalmology & ENT abbreviations →

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.