FITNESS & NUTRITION
PENETRATING INJURIES
This is when something cuts your eye. It is very rarely seen in
racket sports, unless eyeglasses are broken.
EYE
INJURIES
from Pickleball
BY DR. ALAN H. BRAGMAN
E
very year more than 600,000 recreational and
sports‑related eye injuries occur. Of these, close to 14,000
result in a permanent loss of sight. Racket sports rank 4th
among activities causing eye injuries. About 90% of these
could be avoided with the use of protective eyewear made of
polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are highly impact
resistant and are available in prescription and non-prescription
lenses, and they offer UV protection. A change or loss of vision
causes a significant lifestyle change, and has a social and
financial impact.
Pickleball is classified as a high-risk activity because it
involves a ball and a paddle, both of which can potentially cause
eye trauma.
Eye injuries are classified into three different types.
RADIATION INJURIES
This is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from
sunlight. Excessive exposure to UV light can cause eye damage,
including cataracts, macular degeneration and temporary
vision loss. The closer you are to the equator and the higher
the elevation, the greater the UV exposure. From 10:00 a.m. to
2 p.m., UV exposure is greatest, and certain medications such
as tetracycline, sulfa drugs, oral contraceptives, diuretics and
tranquilizers increase exposure.
A pickleball can travel at one-third the velocity of a tennis
ball, which means it can travel at about 40 MPH. With two
players at the no-volley line it takes 350-400 milliseconds, or
less than half a second, for the ball to travel from one paddle to
the other. In other words, you do not have time to avoid being
hit in the eye with a ball. You can test your reaction t