Dry eyes playing pickleball or tennis

Pickleball and tennis can dry out your eyes because you stare at a fast ball for long rallies, often in sun, wind and glare outdoors or under strong air handling in indoor gyms. Concentration cuts blinking, and moving air speeds evaporation. Wraparound sports eyewear, blinking between points, shade on changeovers and a lubricating drop used as its label directs can help. A ball to the eye needs prompt medical care.

Why your eyes feel dry after a match

Racquet sports ask your eyes to lock onto a small, fast object and track it without a break for the length of a rally. People blink less when they concentrate like that, and the blinks they make between shots are often partial. Every full blink refreshes the tear film; long stretches without one let it thin and dry. Add sun that makes you squint, a breeze across the court and the movement of your own head through the air, and many players walk off with eyes that feel gritty or scratchy.

Outdoor courts: sun, wind and glare

Outdoor courts are open by design, so wind has a clear path across them, and their hard surfaces bounce light back up. Afternoon play in summer often means the lowest humidity of the day too. Ways to make outdoor play easier on your eyes:

• Book morning courts when you can, before the air dries out and the sun gets high.
• Wear a visor or cap to cut overhead glare.
• Choose sports sunglasses that wrap around, so wind doesn’t come in from the sides.
• On changeovers and between games, sit in the shade and take a few slow, full blinks.
• Keep sunscreen away from your eyes; reapply with care, and wipe sweaty hands before touching your face.

Pickleball eye protection

Pickleball courts are small and the ball travels fast at the kitchen line, so many players wear protective eyewear to guard against being hit. Close-fitting sports glasses also do something for dryness: they block much of the wind across the eye. Look for frames that sit close to the face and lenses suited to the light you usually play in. Tennis players can get the same windbreak from wraparound sports sunglasses. If you wear prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor about sports frames.

Indoor gyms and bubble courts

Indoor play trades sun and wind for conditioned air. Recreation centers and indoor tennis facilities move a lot of air to keep players cool, and in winter that air is heated and dry. Big fans near the courts send a constant breeze across your face. A few tips:

• Notice where fans and vents point, and between games, sit where the air isn’t blowing directly on you.
• Drink water on breaks; long indoor sessions in dry air can dry you out generally.
• Bright overhead lights can produce glare; a cap can still help indoors if it’s allowed.

Long tournament days and league nights

A tournament or a round-robin can mean several hours on court with short breaks. That much sustained focus adds up. Bring a small bag with water, sunglasses, a towel and your eye drops if you use them, and keep it in the shade. On league nights after a workday at a screen, your eyes may start the match already dry. Our guide to dry eyes at the end of the day explains why.

Players who also golf or cycle will notice similar patterns; our golf course guide covers long days in sun and wind.

Keeping drops in your court bag

Quell is a lubricating eye drop designed to reinforce the tear film’s oil layer to help reduce moisture loss. Its Drug Facts panel gives the Uses as: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. The directions are: Apply 1 drop 3 times per day in each eye. The handling rule matters with sweaty hands: Do not touch tip of bottle to any surface to avoid contamination.

A court bag sitting in full sun, or in a car between matches, can get hotter than the label allows: Store between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Keep it shaded, or carry the bottle in an insulated pocket. Read the caution before first use: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. The label doesn’t give directions for contact lenses or for using it with other eye drops; ask your eye doctor or pharmacist. The full panel is on the Drug Facts page.

When a ball hits your eye

Lubricating drops are for ordinary dryness, not injuries. If a ball, racquet or paddle hits your eye, stop playing. Pain, blurred or double vision, seeing flashes or floaters, or blood in the eye are reasons to get emergency care right away. Even a hit that seems minor deserves a call to an eye doctor if anything feels off afterward.

When dryness keeps coming back

If your eyes stay dry well after you’ve left the court, or the dryness is getting worse, book an eye exam so a doctor can work out the cause and what to do about it. The label says when to stop and ask a doctor: Stop use and ask a doctor if you feel eye pain or changes in your vision, if irritation or redness continues, or if the condition worsens or persists for 72 hours.

Our dry eye self-check can help you describe your symptoms before an appointment; it’s not a diagnosis. Quell is available from the home page, shipped to US addresses.