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Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, has mass appeal thanks to its low-impact design, accessibility and straightforward rules.
Played by 19.8 million people in 2024, this wildly popular sport actually serves up some pretty serious eye injuries.
Published in JAMA Ophthalmology, new research shows that pickleball-related eye injuries more than doubled between 2021 and 2024, jumping by over 400 cases annually compared to the previous decade.
“Pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past four years as the sport continues to grow in popularity,” said the study authors.
While eye protection is not mandated for casual or professional pickleball play, researchers are hopeful their findings will encourage players to use proper gear.
“People often think of pickleball as an easier sport. It may be lower velocity compared to other types of racquet sports, but it’s still a hard ball that moves fast,” Dr. Matthew Gorski, an ophthalmologist at Northwell Health, told The Post.
“You’re in close quarters, and the court is much smaller than something like tennis.”
For the study, researchers analyzed injury data kept by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Between 2005 and 2024, there were an estimated 3,112 pickleball-related eye injuries in the US.
“The spike for pickleball eye-related injuries really started taking off in 2022, which corresponds with the growing popularity around that time,” said Gorski.
“The eye injuries ranged from simple things like cuts around the eyes to bruising to more significant things like corneal abrasions or eye inflammation.”
The study revealed that 43% of pickleball-related injuries involved a direct hit from the ball, 28% were due to falls and 12% from a paddle hit.
Pickleball was previously thought of as a game for seniors, but the average player age is now 35, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
Nevertheless, the researchers found that 70% of all pickleball-related injuries were in patients 50 and older.
“People over 50 in general are often more susceptible to injuries in any sport,” Gorski said.
“Many older patients are not as agile to avoid trauma or contact from a ball or paddle or have pre-existing eye diseases that would put them at higher risk for a significant eye injury.”
The study showed that people over 50 had a 39% higher risk of an eye injury than younger folks.
Gorski advised that patients with a history of certain eye surgeries, retinal detachment, nearsightedness and/or those who take blood thinners may face greater pickleball-related eye complications.
“I think it was very important that they were spreading awareness of the potential dangers for pickleball and the real importance of wearing eye protection while playing pickleball,” Gorski said about the study.
Celebrities are not immune to pickleball pain. Michelle Pfeiffer, 67, revealed in 2023 that she sustained a black eye playing pickleball, and Savannah Guthrie, 53, posted about a similar injury in 2022.
For pickleball and all racquet sports, Gorski specifically recommends American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F3164 protective eyewear.
Proper eyewear should protect both sides and the front of peepers in a wrap-around style made of polycarbonate material.
“You want to ensure your eye protection is made of a proper material that will safely protect your eyes in the event of contact with either the paddle or the ball,” Gorski said.
Check with your eye doctor to make sure your eyewear will work. And definitely see a doctor if you get injured.
“Any player who gets hit in the eye, even if it seems trivial, should see their ophthalmologist right away to check for damage,” Gorski said.
