Pickleball’s surge in popularity, particularly among older demographics, has raised concerns among ophthalmologists who caution about potential eye injuries despite the sport’s seemingly innocuous nature.
“Vulnerable To Eye Injuries”
In a recent issue of the journal Eye, Andrew G. Lee, MD, from Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Methodist Hospital, along with colleagues, highlighted the ocular risks associated with pickleball, particularly for individuals over 65 years old, who are “particularly vulnerable to eye injuries.”
Lee explained to MedPage Today, “The smaller a ball is, the more it can fit into the eye socket without hitting the bone. That’s why smaller balls like racquetballs and squash balls are actually more likely to cause direct eye injury than tennis balls, footballs, or baseballs, which are bigger.”
“Obviously, the incidence is going to increase with the increasing number of pickleball players,” he added.
Up To $500 Million Annually
With the increasing popularity of pickleball, especially among seniors, the incidence of related injuries is expected to rise. Reports indicate that a substantial portion of pickleball players – over 80% – are over 60 years old.
Estimates suggest that pickleball injuries in the U.S. could incur costs of up to $500 million annually, with strains, sprains, and fractures being the most common injuries affecting various body parts, including the wrist, lower leg, and head.
Read more about the ramifications of these injuries in our article here.
CBS News ran a report last year that said, “The number of pickleball-related injuries has nearly doubled, from just under 9,000 in 2020 to just over 17,000 in 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.”
A significant portion – about 75% – of these injuries have been among individuals aged 55 to 75 since 2018.
Outpatient Cases Related To Pickleball
According to MedPage Today, at Houston Methodist Hospital, outpatient cases related to pickleball injuries are observed approximately every 3 to 4 months, with more severe cases requiring medical attention about once a year.
Ophthalmologists, including Albert Li, MD, from the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, have encountered various pickleball-related eye injuries:
“I have seen dislocated intraocular lenses and traumatic macular holes after direct impact of pickleball to the eye,” he says. “Thankfully, we know how to fix these issues. However, all of these surgeries require a period of visual recovery during which the vision is impaired in that eye for several weeks.”
“The major issue is when the energy of the moving pickleball is transmitted to the eye,” he added.
“There are structures that can be injured or bleed. Patients could develop bleeding in the front of the eye, such as a hyphema, that would increase the eye pressure and could cause glaucoma and visual field loss.
“Even if this bleeding were not to occur, we know that the structures that help with the drainage of fluid from the eye can be damaged after trauma and cause glaucoma in the future.”
Surgical Intervention
A recent report goes through the range of optical injuries associated with pickleball, including corneal abrasions, retinal tears, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and lens subluxation. Despite most injuries being minor and self-resolving, severe cases such as fractures or retinal detachment necessitate surgical intervention.
The risk of injury is heightened in individuals with pre-existing eye conditions, emphasizing the importance of protective eyewear. While protective eyewear is mandatory in certain sports like racquetball and squash, it is not universally required in sports like tennis or pickleball. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends the use of protective, shatterproof lenses for sports involving potential eye injuries.
Overall, “most of the injuries that we see with pickleball are minor or mild and self-resolving,” Lee said. “But some are more dangerous, especially when you have a fracture or open globe [injury] with retinal detachment. Those require surgery.”
Wrap-Around Protective Glasses
Lee advised using wrap-around protective glasses for optimal eye protection during pickleball. While prescription glasses or sunglasses offer some level of protection, they may not suffice against the impact force and could pose risks if shattered or displaced.
Individuals with high levels of nearsightedness are particularly vulnerable and should consider wearing safety goggles during sports activities to mitigate the risk of eye injuries.
Lee noted. “They probably should be wearing safety goggles for any ball, racket, or contact sports.”
In connection to this story, we recently reported how 65-year-old actress Michelle Pfeiffer posted photos of a black eye she suffered while playing pickleball.
