Pickleball—the fastest -growing sport in the United States—is causing an alarming number of eye injuries.

In a study published yesterday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers investigated the occurrence of pickleball-related eye injuries among patients who visited emergency departments in the United States and found that from 2021 to 2024, they increased by an estimated 405 injuries a year.

“This study found that pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past 4 years as the sport continues to grow in popularity,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Eye protection is not currently mandated for casual or professional play. Establishing standardized guidelines for eye protection is recommended to reduce the risk of ocular injuries among player

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