The Vision Council Announces Publication of New Technical Standard for Eye Protectors for Racket Sports
Alexandria, VA – December 6, 2024 – The Vision Council, the leading voice for the optical industry, announces the publication of ASTM F3164-24, the Standard Specification for Eye Protectors for Racket Sports (Racquetball, Squash, Tennis, Pickleball). This updated standard replaces the 2019 version and now includes testing methods for pickleball.
ASTM F3164-24 Standard Specification for Eye Protectors for Racket Sports (Racquetball, Squash, Tennis, Pickleball) provides performance requirements for both plano and prescription eye protection devices. This specification covers eye protectors designed for use by players of racket sports (that is, racquetball, squash, tennis, pickleball), that minimize or significantly reduce injury to the eye and adnexa due to impact and penetration by racket-sport rackets/paddles and balls.
The standard dictates frame and lens minimum robustness requirements (impact resistance), optics requirements and downstream Rx filling requirements for optical laboratories and opticians/dispensers prior to delivering racket sports eyewear to the customer.
The new standard supersedes “F3164-19” which replaced the racket sports eyewear provisions previously addressed by ASTM F803. The standard represents work by a team of industry experts, led by ASTM F08.57 Chairman Dale Pfriem from Protective Equipment Consulting Services, Vice Chair Michael C. Vitale from The Vision Council, and principal contributing member Jimmy Slattery from Zyloware.
A copy of the standard can be purchased through ASTM.
ASTM committee F08.57 is a long-established group of protective eyewear experts comprised of manufacturers, eyecare practitioners and game and rule regulating authorities tasked with the development of national standards that apply to sports and recreational protective eyewear. ASTM is accredited by ANSI to develop national standards in this area.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Michael Vitale, The Vision Council’s Vice President of Membership, Government Relations and Technical Affairs.