what do ear mites generally look like? And are cats allergic to them?

Hello, so after brining how the two cats, Jophiel has been getting most of our (medical) attention but now I have been able to notice a few things about Aril that I question. When I look in his ears, they look "dirty" and around his ears is a little red as well as above his ears, almost ave eye area is almost like a small patch of dry, irritated skin that is a bit thin in hair, not totally bald, just thinning in hair. 

He also seems to get a bit of puffy red eyes, just in the white area near the nose, so far left of the right eye and far right of the left eye if that makes sense.

the eyes don't seem like an infection, no puss and he is not pawing at them at all. 

makes me think allergy?

But the same with the ears.. either allergy or ear mites?

Any thoughts?

I will try to go get picture right now. 

My current cats, thankfully have never had ear mites but a cat I had years ago did.  I recall it looking like very small, brown specks in her ears.  Like dirt.  But not dirt. A picture would help.

so he would not let me get a close up picture but I got this one. doe show inside of ears but if you ZOOM in to full size you should be able to see those 'thinning' hair spots by eyes/ear and his little bit of red in the white of his eye.

I will try again to get inside of his ears if he falls asleep somewhere where would would make it easier.