Pickleball eye injuries surge as older amateur players skip protection

Pickleball’s easygoing image is colliding with a harder reality: eye injuries are climbing fastest among older amateur players who step onto the court without protection. A 2025 JAMA Ophthalmology study estimated 3,112 pickleball-related ocular injuries in the United States from 2005 to 2024, including 1,262 in 2024 alone, with injuries rising by an estimated 405 cases a year from 2021 to 2024.

That spike is landing in a sport that has exploded far beyond its retirement-community stereotype. A 2023 Nature commentary said U.S. participation had grown 158.6% over three years, and the Sports and Fitness Industry Association later reported 19.8 million Americans played in 2024, up 45.8% from 2023 and 311% over three years. The game, invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, is now one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, and a 2023 Nature commentary said it is especially popular among people over 65, the group most vulnerable to eye injury.

The injuries are not just stray bruises. In the JAMA Ophthalmology analysis, the most common mechanisms were being hit by the ball, falls and paddle strikes. The most common injuries were periocular lacerations and corneal abrasions, but the study also recorded serious trauma, including orbital fracture, retinal detachment and globe trauma. A 2026 Eye paper reached the same broad conclusion, saying pickleball-related ocular trauma is increasing nationally, particularly among older adults.

Behavior is part of the problem. In a 2025 American Academy of Ophthalmology survey, only 54.5% of amateur players said they wore protective eyewear, compared with 20% of professionals. Among amateurs, younger players were less likely to wear it, and many respondents said they did not realize the risk or found eyewear uncomfortable or distracting. Andrew G. Lee, a neuro-ophthalmologist, has pointed to complacency as a key factor. Daniel Henick also warned that the danger is not limited to straight-on hits across the net; unpredictable paddle deflections can send the ball or debris in a split second.

The safety message now being pushed by ophthalmology groups is straightforward: use eye protection before the match starts, not after a scare. Wraparound sports eyewear that fits securely, stays clear, and does not slip during quick hands battles can reduce risk, especially for older players and anyone with pre-existing eye problems. As pickleball keeps pulling in new converts and crowded courts keep the pace up, the sport’s next growth test may be whether players treat eye protection as standard gear instead of an optional add-on.