"I'm Too Old to Learn Braille": Why Pickleball Eye Protection Matters at Every Age

"I am too old to learn Braille."

This is my trite response to anyone questioning why I wear protective eyewear when playing pickleball. But when it comes to eye safety on the court, age is beside the point — and so is experience.

A recent study found that pickleball-related eye injuries rose sharply between 2014 and 2023, with direct ball impact being the most common cause — and a separate analysis estimated an increase of roughly 405 cases per year between 2021 and 2024 alone. Pickleball eye injuries hit an estimated 1,262 cases just in 2024.

When I was growing up, no one wore helmets when riding a bike. Seatbelts were just an option in cars. Yet both these innovations have decreased injuries and even death. It's time to take pickleball eye protection seriously.

That's why Southern Pickleball Academy is so proud to bring Kitchen Blockers to the First Paddle program. We have officially partnered with Kitchen Blockers, the pioneering creators of lensless protective eyewear designed specifically for pickleball. Through this partnership, Kitchen Blockers is providing their innovative protective eyewear to youth participating in our First Paddle program.

Two First Paddle participants wearing Kitchen Blockers

Kitchen Blockers are the first lens-free protective eyewear designed specifically for pickleball. Their patented "speed bump" frame technology, built from military-grade materials, is engineered to deflect ball impacts away from the eye — and has been independently impact-tested up to 60 mph. Because the design is lens-free, players experience zero fogging, zero light refraction, and full peripheral court vision. For young players just learning the game, that means they can focus on developing their skills without distraction — and without risk.

Before I got my pair of Kitchen Blockers, I had a pair of name brand protective eyewear that was highly recommended. It even came with removeable lens for different lighting conditions. But I would find myself not wearing them because no matter the lens, they still refracted the light just enough to affect my vision. That changed when I was hit near my eye by a ball deflected from my partner's paddle. A half-inch more and I would have had a major eye injury. I bought a pair of Kitchen Blockers and haven't looked back since.

Our eyes are now open--literally! As a part of our commitment for eye safety, we will be strongly encouraging our youth as well as adults to wear protective eyewear when playing pickleball. And thanks to this partnership, we will be providing "loaner" Kitchen Blockers to those participating in all our programs!

Showing off our Kitchen Blockers at our Pickleball & Pizza gathering

And here's something for the whole community: as part of this partnership, you can receive 10% off your own pair of Kitchen Blockers by visiting kitchenblockers.com and entering the discount code FIRSTPADDLE at checkout. 

Kitchen Blockers aren't the right fit for everyone — if you wear glasses, you'll need a lens-based alternative. But the bottom line is simple: wear something.