VALDOSTA — Dr. Clifford Courtenay will be retiring from Eye Associates of South Georgia at the end of January following 25 years of service.

Courtenay, 60, originally received his bachelor’s of science in psychology from the University of Georgia and his doctorate in optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn.

After graduating with is O.D., Courtenay was selected for a clinical fellowship at the Georgia Omni Eye Services of Atlanta. The practice serves as a referral practice for doctors in Atlanta and the surrounding counties.

After being a staff doctor at Omni, Courtenay became a director of Optometric Services at the Eye Institute of Southern Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. There, Courtenay diagnosed disorders and diseases of the eye.

In 1992, Courtenay and his family came to Valdosta and began to work with Dr. Ben Moye to start Eye Associates of South Georgia.

While practicing in Valdosta, Courtenay became a “generalist in a specialty” and has worked with patients ranging in age from 11 days old to more than 100 years old, he said.

He has diagnosed and treated a wide range of problems that are optical visual and medical in nature and then referred the patient to the appropriate doctor if necessary, he said. 

“I figure problems out.”

The decision to retire isn’t because of any one particular reason, Courtenay said. 

“It just seemed like the right time,” he said.

He has no plans to practice optometry after retirement.

“I’ve had a lot of patients ask me where I’m going … I don’t have an interest in being tied down,” he said.

While the opportunity to open a small clinic may seem appealing, he sees a small clinic as another business with bills, staff and other needs.

“Possessions have a way of becoming possessive,” he said.

His greatest regret about retiring from Eye Associates of South Georgia is not being able to “personally communicate with patients” that he will be leaving.

He does have a letter for patients letting them know of the retirement but while some of his patients come in regularly, others only come in every one or two years.

The regret stems from what Courtenay spent most of his interview talking about: interacting with his patients.

While speaking with Courtney, he spoke of his patients not as clients who come in semi-regularly, but as friends.

“It is interesting to get to talk to these people,” he said. 

While he is the doctor and is taking care of the patients, he said he learns from his patients.

Courtenay said he may work something out where he can interact with some of his former patients after he retires, but isn’t sure yet.

With the end of the month looming, Courtenay has no intention “stepping off of the merry-go-round and falling flat on my face,” he said.

He has talked with several patients and friends and has prepared for retirement so he will have things keeping him busy.

“I have a lot of interests,” he said.

Interests include travel by land and by sea.

He said he plans to take his time and travel across the United States with his wife.

“There is a lot of the United States we have not seen,” Courtenay said. “I think it might be an opportunity to take a closer look at our own nation.”

At the day of the road, Courtenay said he is pleased with his time working in Valdosta.

“I have absolutely no complaints,” he said. “I’m very grateful and very blessed. … I’m grateful for my experiences in Valdosta and thankful to embrace the trust that has been given to me to serve this community.”

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1256.