A long-serving ophthalmologist in Swift Current has called it a career.

Dr. Malcolm Banks officially shut the doors to Banks Eye Centre on Chaplin Street West last Wednesday after providing his services to the southwest for 42 years.

The soon-to-be 78-year-old leaves behind a field he began studying in 1972 while living in England.

"It's been absolutely wonderful," he said remarking on his 50-year eye care profession.

After brief stints at England's Addenbrooke's Hospital and Jerusalem's Saint John Eye Hospital, he moved to Swift Current in 1980 for employment that was only supposed to last a year.

"But we liked Swift Current so much as a place to raise a family so we stayed until now," he explained.

Banks has performed over 30,000 cataract operations since emigrating to southwestern Saskatchewan over four decades ago and credits his long-time staff for helping prolong his shelf life.

"What I'll remember is the incredible support and gratitude of the patients I've served over the years," he said. "I've had so many cards, gifts, goodness knows what, and good well wishes from patients. It's just brought a tear of joy to my eye to know that I've affected people's lives in such a positive way."

It's with mixed emotions the avid golfer moves on from his occupation. He's spent the last seven years attempting to recruit someone to the Swift Current area to take over his practice but to no avail.

"I had several people sort of show interest and then just drop out," he said. "Right now attracting people to a small town in the prairies is pretty difficult as there is a nationwide shortage of trained ophthalmologists."

The 1967 medical school graduate will be shifting the next stage of his life to Sooke, British Columbia.

"I'm looking forward to retirement," he proclaimed. "I won't have to get up at 6 a.m. every morning. I won't be on call every night. And I can have a gin and tonic whenever I want."