Dog Ear Mites??? & Eye Problem

Question
I have two questions to ask:

The first question:  My 12 year old Akita (female) has had ear problems for some time (a few years). She scratches her ears, and always wants me to rub her ears because they are itchy.  They have the brownish-black tar looking build up so I've been using the ear mite drops from the local store.  It seems to help for a short time, but then she is back to scratching.   Is the over the counter medicine not strong enough?  Or could there be another problem?

The second question:  Same dog.  A few days ago I noticed her eye drooping and her third eye lid coming across from the corner of her eye.  It looks like her eye is recessed a little in the same corner.  I took her to the vet and he gave me an antibiotic cream (every 12 hours) and some drops that I have to put in her eye every 8 hours.  He thought maybe she scratched the eye on the bushes in the yard.  After two days of treatment I don't see any improvement.  She seems to want to rub the eye, but doesn't seem to have pain.  I looked up some eye problems on the internet and saw microphthalmia, but it seemed like they only referred to puppies.  I have to take her for a check up tomorrow, but in the mean time do you have any other suggestions or idea's of what it could be?

Thanks Dr. Gotthelf,

Janine

Answer
Ear mites are rarely found in older dogs.  If she has black stuff, that is more likely an infection.  Your vet will need to look at this stuff under the microscope to try and determine what this might be. Then appropriate treatment can be given.

As far as the eye, if there is no irritation to the eyeball, there may be a neurological problem or even a dental problem causing the 3rd eyelid o come across.