Pickleball Points

by Dana A. Webb, DO – Good Hope Vision Center

in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

With the rise in popularity of Pickleball over the past several years, it has become the fastest-growing sport in America attracting players of all ages and abilities. It’s important to keep in mind that racquet sports are considered “high risk” activities for eye injuries. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that 90% of sport-related eye injuries are preventable. Roughly 13,000 people become legally-blind from sports injuries annually.

The most common sports-related eye injuries include:

• *contusions
• *corneal abrasions
• *hemorrhages
• *hyphema (pooling of blood between the cornea and the iris)
• *cataract (due to trauma)
• *inflammation
• *retinal tear or detachment
• *orbital fracture
• *ruptured eyeball

Symptoms may include eye pain, blurred or loss of vision, flashes of light and/or floaters to name a few. While some of these injuries can be mild and temporary, others such as a retinal detachment can result in surgery requiring you to be face down for a week or more. Healing requires time away from work or school and a much longer time getting back to the activities you enjoy.

Should you experience an eye injury, please seek urgent eye care with your optometrist, ophthalmologist or the emergency room. Avoid rubbing your eye and, instead, place a protective shield over your eye (bottom of a paper cup that does not touch the eye). Prompt care may greatly improve the chance of preserving vision.

Regular prescription glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses do not properly protect your eyes.

All sports protective eyewear should meet the impact standard of the American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Lenses should be made from polycarbonate material as they provide the highest level of impact protection and block UV light. Polycarbonate lenses are available in prescription and non-prescription safety glasses and goggles. If you’re buying eye guards with lenses, make sure the lenses either stay in place or “pop outward.” Your optometrist or optician can assist you with finding the proper size and performance of your protective eyewear. Prevent Blindness has guidelines for finding the best eye protection.

September is Sports Eye Safety Month. It’s a great time to decide to protect your sight while playing pickleball!

Dana A. Webb, DO – Good Hope Vision Center

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin