My dear friends, with a great deal of sadness and feelings of deep personal loss, I must share with you that I will be closing Hart Eye Center on Dec. 30.

I have loved every minute of my life as an eye physician in my hometown.

Since succeeding my father, Dr. Clinton Hart, in this practice, I have striven to uphold his dedication to personalized patient care. I have worked to treat each patient as a personal friend. I will long remember so many of you from our conversation in the exam rooms.

I recall getting to know so many of you as we passed through the eras of life together. I thank you for entrusting me to resolve concerns about eye care, eye diseases, vision loss and the need for surgeries.

I have given careful thought to the physician team I could entrust with your ongoing eye care, confident that you will continue to receive the same level of personal attention and compassion.

I am pleased to refer you to the physician team at The Eye Clinic of Lake Charles. In my conversations with physician owners, I have been encouraged by their commitment to treating patients not only with clinical excellence but also with genuine friendship and respect—values that have guided my own practice.

I thank God for His providence in my life, and I now will have time to serve Him better. I look forward to seeing you at church, around town, and at special events.

Thank you, and may God bless you and be with you.

-William B. Hart, MD

*For medical records, call 337-439-4014.