April 21, 2026
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- Only 38.81% of pickleball players who used eyewear on the court used dedicated protective glasses.
- Pickleball eye injuries are becoming increasingly common as the game becomes more popular.
Amateur pickleball players report that their regular prescription eyeglasses are the most common eyewear they use on the court, despite safer options and a rising rate of eye injuries, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
“Pickleball has surged in popularity in recent years and is enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. Accordingly, pickleball-related injuries have become more common, with a nearly sevenfold increase in injuries between 2017 and 2022,” Daniel Henick, MD, a hospital resident at Yale School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “While most pickleball injuries are orthopedic or musculoskeletal in nature, eye injuries make up a small but meaningful subset. … The best way to prevent eye injuries while playing pickleball is to use protective eyewear.”
Data derived from Henick D, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2026;doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.0027.
To see how often players currently wear protective eyewear, Henick and colleagues conducted a study comparing its use among professional vs. amateur pickleball players. They analyzed professionals’ eyewear by reviewing footage from the 2025 Zimmer Biomet Masters pickleball tournament, while amateur players were assessed through a survey distributed at local courts in New Haven County, Connecticut.
The survey was adapted from existing surveys aimed at squash players and distributed between May and September 2025. It asked players whether they wear protective eyewear when playing pickleball and included “regular prescription glasses” as a type of protective eyewear.
Among amateur players who reported using protective eyewear, that eyewear was more often their own prescription glasses (61.19%) than dedicated protective glasses (38.81%).
The researchers noted that published standards for protective eyewear in racket sports, including pickleball, recommend the use of impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses.
“Eyewear that does not meet specific standards can sometimes prevent injuries in low-impact situations, but paradoxically it may actually increase the risk of injury due to shattering and deformation in high-impact situations,” they wrote.
Use of protective eyewear was more common among self-described “advanced” players than “beginners” (53.97% vs. 11.11%) as well as more common among players aged 29 to 70 years than younger players (51.89% vs. 30.95%).
Among amateurs who did not wear protective eyewear, the most commonly reported reasons were:
- fogging and sweat making it uncomfortable (27.16%),
- never having considered it or the possibility of eye injuries (25.93%) and
- not seeing the risk as being that great (9.88%).
Amateur players reported using protective eyewear more frequently (45.27%) than was observed among professionals (20%).
Henick and colleagues suggested that public awareness campaigns and incentives, such as free eyewear at local venues, could drive adoption of protective eyewear among pickleball players.
“While the rate of pickleball-related eye injuries has surged in recent years, we are optimistic that implementation of the interventions outlined in this study and future endeavors can reduce unnecessary pickleball-related eye injuries as the sport continues to become more fast paced, accessible and popular,” they wrote.
Perspective
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Keith A. Smithson, OD
Disclosures: Smithson reports being a cofounder and partner at Sports Vision Pros.
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