For more information:
Dori Jennings
Prevent Blindness Ohio
614.464.2020 x105 [email protected]
Prevent Blindness Ohio Declares September as Sports Eye Safety Month to Raise Awareness, Provide Education to Help Avoid Eye Injuries
– Prevent Blindness data shows more than 44,000 sports eye injuries were treated in 2025, including those related to fast-growing sport, pickleball –
Columbus, OH (September 2, 2026)– Prevent Blindness Ohio has again declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month. New Prevent Blindness data shows that there were more than 44,000 sports-related eye injuries treated in the United States in 2025.
Basketball had the highest rate of eye injuries for those ages 15 and older. Pool and water sports, such as swimming, had the most eye injuries for those ages 14 and younger.
As the popularity of pickleball continues to grow, so does the number of related eye injuries. These may occur from a direct hit by a pickleball or by a paddle, or falls. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) states that players more likely to sustain an eye injury with more severe consequences include those with myopia or those who have had previous eye surgery. Serious injuries may occur including:
Corneal abrasion, in which the surface of the eye gets scratched from the edge of a ball
Berlin’s edema, or damage to the retina’s outer layers, which can cause decreased vision in the eye for several hours
Retinal tear or detachment caused by a pickleball impacting the eye directly
To help educate the public on the importance of wearing proper eye protection while playing sports, Prevent Blindness Ohio offers free sports eye safety information including a dedicated webpage, fact sheets, and shareable social media graphics.
Another great resource for sports eye safety is the Ohio Ophthalmological Society’s (OOS’) Play Hard Don’t Blink / Superspecs program, which has outfitted more than two million Ohio children over the past two decades with free eyewear protection for youth athletic and vocational activities. Through this program, OOS provides safety goggles, sports helmets, and protective masks, including prescription eyewear, to children ages 18 and younger throughout the state. They distribute the equipment through youth athletic league directors and coaches, school vocational administrators and teachers, and directly to parents and youth advocates.
“The proper eye protection when playing sports should always be considered part of the uniform,” said Dr. Marioneaux. “Talk to your eye doctor to make sure you have the right eye protection for your sport and your ability, and make sure the lenses have UV-protection.”
Some sports require more than just protective eyewear to protect the face and head. For example, helmet-mounted face guards, face shields, or face cages may also be recommended or required depending on the sport, age of the player, and league rules.
Prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection for sports eyewear. All eye protection should meet sport-specific ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. An updated listing of these, including recommendations for pickleball, may be found at: PreventBlindness.org/recommended-sports-eye-protectors.
For more information on sports eye safety and injury prevention, please visit PreventBlindness.org/sports-eye-safety, or contact Prevent Blindness Ohio at 800-301-2020, or visit Prevent Blindness Ohio at pbohio.org.
About Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. The Ohio Affiliate of Prevent Blindness serves all 88 Ohio counties, providing direct services to more than 1,000,000 Ohioans annually and educating millions of consumers about what they can do to protect and preserve their precious gift of sight. For more information or to contribute, call 800-301-2020 or donate here. Visit us at pbohio.org.
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