Doctors oppose the release of the film Naina

‘Naina' - the film based on supernatural thrillers has fallen into a medical controversy before its release. Many ophthalmologists have opposed the film due to the myths described in the film. The film shows bilateral eye transplants on a girl who loses her eyesight in an accident at the age of 5. After 20 years she gets her eyesight back through an eye transplantation surgery. But instead of giving respite and adding colours to her dark life, her new eyesight brings along the gift of another world, where she is able to see things unknown to mankind. The Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society (IIRSI), India has raised questions against the controversial issues shown in the film. The film talks about transplantation of complete eyeballs, which in itself is unscientific and will pass a wrong message to the audience and general public about eye transplantation. It is a known and a scientific fact that during eye transplantation, the eye, as a whole is never replaced, rather only the outer most layer of the eye called cornea is transplanted. According to the Chairman of IIRSI, the film shows that both the eyes are being transplanted together, which is totally unscientific and can have a devastating effect on the minds of the potential recipients of cornea and also on eye donors in reality after seeing this movie. Also, the audience may fall in the grip of such perverted facts and may start following the myths of this movie. Hence, the movie will be a demotivating factor for all those who wish to donate their eyes. A renowned hospital in Mumbai, a centre for excellence in vitreo - retinal treatment and research, has also filed a petition against the release of the film. The Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society (MOS) feels that if the movie is viewed, people willing to come forward for donating their eyes/corneas will refuse to do so as the movie adds to the myths and misconceptions surrounding eye donations. Further, it is also likely to affect the health and life of persons with visual defects, as even the persons seeking eye transplants are likely to refuse to undergo surgery very important to their well being merely due to the fears and concerns raised in their minds due to the false misconceptions raised in the above movie on the outcome of such surgeries.