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A smash to the eye – why I wear sports glasses for pickleball

Getting hit by a ball changed how I think about eye protection in pickleball. My personal experience, what studies show and what matters in protective eyewear.

6 min read by Daniela Schröder

It happened in my first weeks of training: a smash hit me full force on my right eye. As a glasses wearer, I had my varifocals on. Afterwards the frame was bent and the expensive lens was chipped in two places. Since then, sports glasses have been part of my pickleball kit.

A plastic ball with holes looks harmless at first. But on both sides of the net lies the kitchen, also called the non-volley zone. At the kitchen line, the teams face each other just a few metres apart. With fast volleys or unexpected deflections, there is hardly any time to react. And smashes can hit you anywhere on the court.

What the numbers say

So far, data on eye injuries comes mainly from the USA. A study in JAMA Ophthalmology analysed emergency department cases between 2005 and 2024:

  • An estimated 3,100 pickleball-related eye injuries over the entire study period.
  • Around 1,260 of them in 2024 alone.
  • From 2021 to 2024, an estimated increase of around 405 cases per year.

The estimates are based on 73 recorded cases in the participating emergency departments. They show a rise in treated eye injuries. Whether the risk per player has also increased cannot be concluded from this alone: at the same time, more and more people are playing pickleball.

The study also documents serious injuries, including retinal detachments, orbital fractures and bleeding inside the eye. Injuries like these can permanently affect vision.

Where the risk lies on the court

Short distance. When playing at the kitchen, there is little time to get out of the way of a fast ball.

Fast balls. Volleys and smashes can hit the face directly. I have experienced first-hand how much force is behind them.

Unexpected deflections. A ball can suddenly be deflected towards your face by your own paddle, your partner's paddle or the net tape. Changes of direction like these are hard to anticipate.

Are normal glasses or sunglasses enough?

Everyday glasses or ordinary sunglasses do not automatically offer the protection of tested protective sports eyewear. Frames and lenses are not necessarily designed to withstand the impact of a ball. They can break and cause additional injuries.

For glasses wearers, money matters too: replacement lenses can be expensive. My prescription sports glasses cost me less than a single lens of my varifocals.

What to look for in protective eyewear

The label "sports glasses" alone says nothing about tested protection. An elastic frame or impact-resistant lenses are individual features. What matters is how the whole pair of glasses, including the lenses, withstands an impact.

These points help when choosing:

  • Proven protection testing: The US standard ASTM F3164-24 explicitly includes tests for pickleball. It covers protective eyewear with and without prescription.
  • European standard: EN ISO 18527-2 applies to eye protection for squash, racquetball and squash 57, as well as for sports with comparable hazards and no higher risks. It is not a test specifically designated for pickleball. The manufacturer or optician should confirm that the specific model is suitable.
  • Impact-resistant lenses and a secure fit: Polycarbonate is an impact-resistant material. A suitable frame and a fit that keeps the glasses in place during fast movements are also important.
  • The right lenses: Clear lenses are best indoors. Outdoors, tinted lenses with UV protection can make sense.
  • With prescription: Protective sports eyewear is available with and without prescription, from opticians and online. An optician experienced with protective sports eyewear can advise on the right combination of frame and prescription lenses. The protection requirements must also be met with the lenses fitted.

I have two pairs of sports glasses in my prescription: one with a sun tint for outdoors and one with clear lenses for indoors. The frame is elastic, doesn't bend and fits so that it doesn't slip even when I sweat. A strap to secure it behind the head is available as an option. Since I started wearing sports glasses, I have been hit near the eyes by a ball several times. It was unpleasant every time, but my eye was not injured. That is my personal experience; it does not tell you anything about the protection offered by a particular model.

Why many people play without protective eyewear

A US study surveyed 148 recreational players and analysed tournament footage of 175 professionals. Around 45 percent of recreational players said they wore glasses while playing. Among the professionals observed, it was 20 percent.

This did not only count dedicated protective equipment: around 61 percent of those recreational players simply wore their everyday glasses. Glasses designed specifically for eye protection were much less common.

Reasons given for not wearing glasses included concerns about comfort and a lack of awareness of the injury risk. The results refer to the group studied and cannot be applied to all pickleball players.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends suitable eye protection for players of all levels. A proposal to make eyewear mandatory at tournaments sanctioned by USA Pickleball was rejected in 2024. One of the reasons given was that it would be difficult to enforce in practice.

My conclusion

The key points in brief:

  • Everyday glasses and sunglasses do not protect reliably. On impact, they can become a hazard themselves.
  • Protective sports eyewear is available with and without prescription, from opticians and online.
  • When buying, look for a tested standard, impact-resistant lenses and a secure fit. Glasses wearers are best advised by an optician.

I only play with sports glasses now. Maybe someone in your group already wears a pair – try them on. And if you know someone who plays without: feel free to send them this article.

This article describes personal experiences and summarises information from the sources listed. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you experience impaired vision, flashes of light, new spots or shadows in your field of vision, or severe pain after being hit: see an eye doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Milder symptoms should also be checked by a doctor.

Sources