Founded in 1998 by Murali Krishnamurthy, K. Sridharan, and Sridharan's neighbor Ahmad Khushnood with the help of their first donor, Harihara Moorthy. SEF has risen to great heights from its humble beginnings. At the urging of their uncle Mr. P. Balasubramaniam of India, brothers Murali and Sridharan became motivated to help Sankara Eye Hospital run by Dr.R.V. Ramani, whose mission headquarters is in Coimbatore, India.