Dr. Jules Stein (1896–1981) was a unique American figure who achieved monumental success in two vastly different fields: entertainment and ophthalmology. A practicing ophthalmologist in the 1920s, he financed his medical education by playing music, which led him to co-found the Music Corporation of America (MCA) in 1924, growing it into a colossal global entertainment empire (later Universal Studios).After retiring from MCA, Dr. Stein returned to his medical roots with an ambitious focus on preventing blindness.His humanitarian legacy rests on three major pillars:Founding Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) in 1960, a leading voluntary organization funding eye research.Spearheading the successful campaign that convinced Congress to establish the National Eye Institute (NEI) in 1968.Founding the world-renowned Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA in 1966, a center for cutting-edge patient care, research, and education.His unique combination of business acumen and medical expertise profoundly transformed the landscape of vision research and eye care.