JAMA Ophthalmology study finds low protective eyewear use among pickleball players

A JAMA Ophthalmology survey study led by Daniel Henick, M.D. at Yale School of Medicine found alarmingly low reported use of protective eyewear among pickleball players: 20 percent of 175 professional players and 45.27 percent of 148 amateur players said they wear protective eyewear. The difference was statistically significant - χ2(1) = 23.69; P < 0.001 - showing a clear split between pros and amateurs in self-reported eye protection.

The survey broke amateurs into experience groups and recorded a stark gap: amateur beginners reported 11.11 percent eyewear use while amateur advanced players reported 53.97 percent. Among amateurs who did report using eyewear, 61.19 percent relied on their own regular prescription glasses rather than dedicated protective goggles, a detail that raises specific safety questions about impact resistance and lens construction.

Respondents who said they used protective eyewear cited awareness of injury risk and knowing someone with an eye injury as the main motivators. Those who did not use eyewear reported discomfort with eyewear and never having considered the risk for eye injury as the top barriers. The authors frame these behavioral drivers as targets for intervention when discussing next steps.

Beyond the survey numbers, medical experts quoted in related coverage warn that standard prescription glasses are not designed to withstand high-velocity impacts and may shatter on force, potentially worsening outcomes. That coverage describes sports-specific protective goggles as typically built with polycarbonate lenses and reinforced frames and regarded as the appropriate safeguard against paddle strikes or fast-moving balls.

The study authors' conclusion is explicit: "Given the rise in pickleball-related eye injuries, further efforts to improve the consistent use of high-quality protective eyewear seem warranted," they write. That recommendation underscores the survey's practical consequence for players who switch courts between casual play and tournament settings.

For follow-up or requests for the full manuscript, the JAMA Ophthalmology article is listed under DOI 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.0027; corresponding author Daniel Henick, M.D., can be reached at daniel.henick@yale.edu. Media inquiries may be directed to JAMA Network Media Relations at mediarelations@jamanetwork.org.

The numbers in this study give pickleball communities a measurable starting point: only one in five professionals and fewer than half of amateurs report any protective eyewear use, and most amateurs who do wear eyewear depend on prescription glasses rather than impact-rated goggles. That gap points to a clear, actionable safety issue for players, clubs, and tournament organizers moving forward.