43
March ll/89
A. Dellaporta M.D.
ll0l Welch Road
Palo Alto Ca 94305.
Dear Dr. Dellaporta:
I appreciate your seeing Dr. William Walker re possible cataract
surgery. You did a very good
exam.
You noticed the drusen of the right macula. His
corrected vision Oct 22/89 was RE 20/20-l LE 20/20. From
then on the vision in the right eye slowly deteriorated.
Sept. l980 20/25-l. Sept l981 20/30- Sept l982 20/60
He has been taking Thorazine for about 20 years. At the
V.A. Hospital Menlo Park, he used to take up to l000 mg of
Thorazine daily. The back surface of the corneas were covered
with brown spots which is common with big doses of this drug.
They have thinned out in recent years. You noted this in
your examination.
In l985 the media was slightly cloudy in both eyes. The
macula of the right eye had a moth- eaten appearance.
Later he developed opacities in the right eye. My
impression was that he was a person with a degenerating
retina, along with lens opacities.
I have spent a lot of time helping Dr.Walker with the special
stresses he is subject to. I gave him much advice
regarding his life style including nutrition. I agree with
you that there is no emergency. He does not appear to be a
good surgical risk. He appears to be doing well with his new
glasses. I would be happy if surgery could be postponed
for awhile.
He has been taking timoptic since l985. He was high normal.
I had him stop for 2 weeks but the pressure went up. He was
taking l/4 % in each eye.
When Dr. Walker was taking the big doses of Thorazine, about
25 other veterans on big doses, developed damage to the
macula.
Wishing you good health and happy happenings.
Cordially,
Robert Little M.D.
