Netra Foundation was founded way back in 1990 under the auspices of Paramacharya of Kanchi Kama Koti Peedom Shri Shri. Chandra Sekhara Saraswathi Swamigal of Kancheepuram in the campus of Netracharya Late N.V.Kuttikrishnan Nair (1921 – 2003) at Niranam near Thiruvalla, Kerala India. The Holi Paduka and a Coconut blessed by the Paramacharya himself have been worshipped in the hospital since then. Padmabhushan Dr. S.S. Badrinath (Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai), Late Shri.K.K.Somani (Mumbai), Padmashree.DarshanShankar(FRLHT, Bengaluru), Dr.A.V.Balasubramanium (CIKS, Chennai), Padmashree.P.R.KrishnaKumar (The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Cbe) Ltd;), late Vaidya Vilas Nanal (Pune) and Dr.Prof.Prema Pandurang served as the founder directors.

Netra Chikitsa (Ophthalmology), a speciality area in the traditional medicine of India (Ayurveda), has to date very few practitioners and experts compared to other areas like bone setting(Orthopaedics), Visha chikitsa (toxicology) or Balachikitsa (paediatrics). Sudarshanam Netra Chikitsalayam in Thiruvalla of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala state is a well-known centre for treating various disorders of the eyes.