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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 2 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.
New this year in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series will be the episode "Sports Eye Safety" featuring Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, Prevent Blindness Board of Directors member and president-elect of the AAO. And the September Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health podcast will feature Shanyn A. Toulouse, DNP, MEd, RN, NCSN, National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness Advisory Committee member, and Northeast Regional School Nurse Consultant, discussing a variety of topics, including the importance of sports eye protection for kids.
"The proper eye protection when playing sports should always be considered part of the uniform," said 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 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, including recommendations for pickleball, may be found at: PreventBlindness.org/recommended-sports-eye-protectors.
For more information, visit PreventBlindness.org/sports-eye-safety, or contact Prevent Blindness Ohio at 800-301-2020, or visit Prevent Blindness Ohio at pbohio.org.