There are more eye injuries being recorded among pickleball players, according to a new study.
Of the 3,112 estimated pickleball-related eye injuries recorded between 2014 and 2024, 1,262 took place in 2024 alone, researchers said in the paper, which was published by JAMA Ophthalmology on Oct. 16.
The researchers estimated that the incidence of injuries increased by 405 cases annually from 2021 to 2024.
“This study found that pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past 4 years as the sport continues to grow in popularity,” Dr. Corey Lacher, with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, and coauthors wrote.
They noted that eye protection is not at this time required for casual or professional pickleball games and they recommended the creation of standard guidance for eye protection to reduce eye injuries from the sport….