Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
doctors Warns of worrying increase in America eye Sports injuries After the rise in popularity of Tennis-Badminton Hybrid GamePickleball.
A new study published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology Turns out there were an estimated 3,112 pickleball related Eye injuries between 2005 and 2024, with more than 1250 recorded in 2024 alone.
some of the worst injuries New Jersey doctors who were part of the study say the trending sports-related risks include retinal detachment, broken eye sockets and bleeding eyes.
Eye protection is not currently mandatory for casual or professional pickleball.
According to the doctors, the findings call for new standardized guidelines regarding eye protection for sports.
Pickleball, a sport invented in 1965 in Washington state that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, has grown in popularity in recent times, partly driven by the adoption of the sport by celebrities.
Its straightforward rules have contributed to its widespread appeal, with an estimated 20 million players in the US alone.
However, scientists say the incidence and types of pickleball-related eye injuries are “unclear.”
In the new study, researchers assessed data from the US National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database for the period between 2005 and 2024.
They analyzed the incidence of pickleball-related ocular injuries and found a projected increase of 405 injuries per year from 2021 to 2024.
In 2024 alone, the study found that there were more than 1,200 eye injuries related to pickleball, with the mechanism of injury being “hit by the ball” 43 percent of the time, falling 28 percent of the time, and being hit with a paddle 12 percent of the time.
The top injuries included lacerations of the cornea and eyelid, but more serious injuries such as detachment of the retina and fractures of the bones of the eye socket were also reported.
“These data may inform changes in consumer protection recommendations. Currently, to our knowledge, there is no mandate or guidance on eye protection from USA Pickleball, the governing body for pickleball in the United States,” the researchers wrote.
He added, “Although the increase in ocular injuries may directly reflect the increasing number of players, it is also possible that casual players are more susceptible to injury due to limited experience, unfamiliarity with the sport, or lower levels of physical fitness.”
The findings prove that pickleball-related ocular injuries have increased rapidly over the past four years in line with the growing popularity of the sport.
“Pickleball should consider recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and develop evidence-based guidance on protective goggles to reduce the risk of injury,” the researchers wrote.
The study also calls for educational programs and campaigns to promote eye-protection measures among pickleball players.
“These types of programs have shown success in other sports, including squash, another racket and ball sport, where players exposed to promotion and education about protective goggles were 2.4 times more likely to wear them than those who were not exposed,” the researchers wrote.