The book demonstrates how ideas, discoveries, and technologies cross borders and oceans. It illustrates the interplay of subspecialties, the changing pre-eminence of countries and cities, and the explosions of creativity and generations of dormancy in various areas. The author highlights the numerous and diverse events and people responsible for shaping this specialty.

There are many ways of looking at history: from the standpoint of the lives of major figures, of society and impact, of subspecialties, of countries, of institutions, and of books. By presenting its information chronologically, Dates in Ophthalmology explores the how these areas intersect, influence, and impact each other.