Pickleball is a popular sport, especially among seniors and retired Americans. Even though pickleball seems as harmless as ping-pong, it can cause serious eye injuries, so it is essential to protect your vision.
Pickleball Is the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Sport
A combination of badminton, ping-pong and tennis, pickleball is an energetic sport that is easy to learn and suitable for all levels of athletic ability. Invented in 1965, pickleball has skyrocketed in popularity in the last five years, with participation up 159 percent from 2019 to 2022. Seniors especially enjoy the sport, with more than 80 percent of players being 60 and older.
“Eye injuries in sport are a mix of factors relating to the presence of a bat or ball, the size of the court and opportunity for impact with other players increasing the risk of eye injury,” said Annette Hoskin, PhD, a Research Fellow at the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney and the Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia in Perth.
Dr. Hoskin said there has been a remarkable increase in pickleball injuries as more people discover the sport.
Racket Sports Can Cause Serious Eye Injuries
Smaller balls like racquetballs, squash balls and pickleballs are more likely to cause eye injury because they can fit in the eye socket without hitting the bone. Even though pickleballs are lightweight and move about one-third the speed of tennis balls, they can still travel up to 40 miles per hour and cause more damage than footballs or tennis balls.
“While pickleball is generally considered to be a safe sport due to its non-contact nature, the risk of eye injuries cannot be overlooked,” said Andrew G. Lee, MD, chair of the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist. “The high velocity of the ball and small court poses a significant risk for eye injuries.”
Older people are particularly vulnerable to ocular injury because they may lack quick reflexes, and those who have pre-existing eye conditions are at even higher risk. CBS News stated pickleball injuries have nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020 to over 17,000 in 2022, and three out of four injuries since 2018 involved individuals aged 55 to 75.
“A lot of people stand very close to the net when they’re playing pickleball,” said Raj Maturi, MD, ophthalmologist and member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “A ball directed to the eye can come faster than you have time to reflexively react to, causing significant vision impairment.”
Pickleball and other racket sports can cause several types of eye injuries, including the following:
- Corneal abrasion
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Retinal tears
- Retinal detachment
- Posterior vitreous detachment
- Traumatic lens dislocation
Wear Proper Eye Protection When Playing Racket Sports
People who play racquetball and squash are more likely to wear eye protection, but pickleball players rarely wear protective glasses. About 90 percent of serious eye injuries could be prevented by wearing appropriate eyewear.
Studies show that wearing sports goggles, safety visors or face shields are the most effective method to protect the eyes and prevent injury. The most effective eyewear are polycarbonate safety goggles with front and side coverage.
Get Your Eyes Checked during Healthy Vision Month
May is Healthy Vision Month. Yearly visits to the eye doctor are as important as getting a wellness check with your primary care physician. Healthy vision keeps you safe and allows you to participate in the daily activities you enjoy, like reading, driving and caring for your home and pets.
Preventive vision care is essential because 2.9 million Americans have low vision, and 1.3 million are blind. Vision loss and eye disease cause an economic burden of $139 billion, but 80 percent of vision impairment is avoidable through preventive care and treatment.
Call Your Ophthalmologist Today to Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Has it been over a year since you had a complete eye exam? Healthy Vision Month is a perfect time to call your eye doctor and schedule appointments for your family. You should schedule annual eye screenings at age 40 or earlier if you have hypertension, diabetes or a family history of eye disease.
Approximately 37 million adults in America have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma, all of which can cause visual impairment or blindness. A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to find out if you have eye problems, need a new prescription or are in the early stages of a chronic eye condition or disease.