New technical standard for eye protectors

The Vision Council announces the publication of an updated standard, ASTM F3164-24, that provides performance requirements for both plano and prescription eye protection devices. This specification covers eye protectors—designed for use by players of racket sports including racquetball, squash, tennis, and 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 and members of The Vision Council can learn more about industry technical standards here. Please contact Michael Vitale, The Vision Council’s Vice President of Membership, Government Relations and Technical Affairs with questions.