Due to the immense backlog from the COVID pandemic, Dr. Bursztyn is not currently doing any elective minor procedures. She continues to perform urgent procedures such as temporal artery biopsy and tarsorrhaphy.
Dr. Bursztyn performs several types of minor procedures. See below for a brief description of the more common procedures.
Stye Removal
A stye, also called a chalazion, is a small bump that forms on the eyelid. It is caused by a blocked oil gland in your skin. A chalazion will often go away on its own, or with hot compresses and ointments. If the chalazion becomes infected or inflamed, or does not go away with the usual treatment, it can be removed surgically. After freezing the eyelid, a small incision is made on the inside of the eyelid and the gland is cleaned out. The eye is a bit scratchy afterwards and may bleed a little, but this settles down nicely over a day or two.
Skin Tag & Lump Removal
Dr. Bursztyn also removes small lesions from the skin around the eye. Most skin tags and other lumps around the eye are benign (not cancer). Although they can be very annoying, removal of these lesions is rarely covered by OHIP.
Tarsorrhaphy
Blinking and closing the eye while sleeping is very important to keep the eye healthy. People who cannot close the eye because of a facial nerve palsy may need to have a tarsorrhaphy to protect the eye. A tarsorrhaphy involves sewing the eyelids partially closed. The lids almost never need to be closed more than halfway, so you can still see out of the eye afterwards. The procedure can be reversed at any time if it is safe to do so.