Sports Glasses & Goggles that meet or exceed ASTM F803 & F3164

When impact protection matters, don't rely on eyewear simply because it looks like a sports goggle or has polycarbonate lenses.

The eyewear in this SportEyes collection has been selected because it has certification showing that it meets the applicable sports impact standard, including ASTM F803 for applicable sports and ASTM F3164 for racquet sports such as pickleball, tennis, racquetball, and squash.

These standards evaluate protective sports eyewear for the types of impacts associated with athletic activity. Depending on the product, SportEyes offers certified protective eyewear for children, teens, and adults, including many prescription options.

If you're unsure which standard applies to your sport, ask us. With more than 30 years specializing in sports eyewear, helping customers understand the difference between ordinary sports glasses and properly tested protective eyewear is an important part of what we do.

What Does Certified Sports Eyewear Mean?

There's an important difference between eyewear being described as "impact resistant" and having documentation showing that the product meets a recognized sports impact standard.

Protective sports standards evaluate more than the material used to make the lens. The eyewear must meet specific requirements for the applicable standard.

That's important because a pair of ordinary eyeglasses with polycarbonate lenses isn't automatically protective sports eyewear.

For the products in this collection, look at the individual product information to determine whether the eyewear is certified as meeting ASTM F803, ASTM F3164, or another specifically identified standard.

ASTM F803 

ASTM F803 is a long-established protective-eyewear standard covering specific sports and impact hazards.

SportEyes carries sports goggles with certification demonstrating that they meet the ASTM F803 standard for applicable sports.

F803 protective eyewear is commonly associated with sports such as basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and certain other sports covered by the standard.

The specific application matters. A product meeting F803 shouldn't automatically be assumed appropriate for every sport simply because it's a protective sports goggle.

ASTM F3164

Racquet sports now have their own dedicated protective-eyewear standard.

ASTM F3164-24 is the current standard for eye protectors used in racquetball, squash, tennis, and pickleball.

This is particularly important for pickleball players. The rapid growth of pickleball has brought much more attention to eye protection, but not every pair of glasses marketed as "pickleball glasses" provides the same level of impact protection.

If impact protection is your priority for pickleball, tennis, racquetball, or squash, look for eyewear with documentation showing that it meets ASTM F3164.

Why F3164 Instead of F803 for Racquet Sports?

This is an area that can be confusing because racquet sports were historically addressed under ASTM F803.

That changed when ASTM introduced a separate standard specifically for racquet sports. The current version, ASTM F3164-24, supersedes the earlier F3164-19 standard and covers eye protectors for racquetball, squash, tennis, and pickleball.

So if you're shopping specifically for current-standard protective eyewear for one of those racquet sports, F3164 is the standard to look for.

F803 eyewear can still be useful for athletes participating in other applicable sports, but it shouldn't be presented as equivalent to current F3164 certification for racquet sports.

Certified Pickleball Glasses

Pickleball deserves special attention because many products are now marketed as "pickleball eyewear."

Some are primarily sunglasses or performance eyewear. Others may use impact-resistant materials but don't necessarily have certification to the current racquet-sports standard.

If you're specifically looking for certified pickleball glasses, look for products documented as meeting ASTM F3164.

This gives you a meaningful standard to compare rather than relying on marketing terms such as:

• "Impact resistant"
• "Sports approved"
• "Safety lenses"
• "Protective pickleball glasses"

Those phrases alone don't tell you whether the complete eyewear has been tested to the current sports-specific standard.

Certified Sports Goggles vs. Regular Sports Glasses

A performance sunglass can be excellent sports eyewear without being certified protective eyewear.

Performance glasses may provide:

• UV protection
• Glare reduction
• Better contrast
• Comfortable lightweight fit
• Secure grip
• Improved visual performance

Those are valuable features, but they're different from documented impact protection to a recognized sports standard.

Certified protective sports eyewear is specifically designed and tested around impact protection.

For customers who prioritize protection, that's an important distinction.

Polycarbonate Lenses Don't Automatically Make Glasses Certified

This is one of the most common misunderstandings we encounter.

Polycarbonate is an excellent impact-resistant lens material, and it's widely used in protective sports eyewear.

But polycarbonate lenses alone don't make a pair of glasses compliant with ASTM F803 or F3164.

The complete eyewear system matters.

That includes the:

• Frame
• Lenses
• Lens retention
• Coverage
• Construction
• Complete frame-and-lens combination

Putting polycarbonate lenses into an ordinary eyeglass or sunglass frame doesn't turn that eyewear into a certified protective sports goggle.

Prescription Certified Sports Goggles

One of SportEyes' biggest specialties is prescription protective sports eyewear.

Many products in this collection can be made with custom prescription lenses while maintaining the requirements specified for that protective eyewear system.

Depending on the model and certification, options may be available for:

• Single-vision prescriptions
• Astigmatism
• Higher prescriptions
• Different prescriptions in each eye
• Clear lenses
• Tinted lenses
• Children and adults

It's important that the prescription lenses be made appropriately for the specific protective frame.

You shouldn't simply put ordinary prescription lenses into a certified sports frame and assume the finished product maintains the same certification.

That's one reason purchasing prescription protective sports eyewear from a specialist matters.

High Prescriptions & Astigmatism

Higher prescriptions can make sports eyewear more challenging, particularly in highly wrapped frames.

SportEyes specializes in finding protective sports eyewear for customers with prescriptions that may be difficult for a local optical shop to accommodate.

Depending on your prescription and sport, a less-wrapped lens configuration may provide a better solution while still allowing you to choose eyewear with the appropriate sports certification.

If you have a strong prescription or significant astigmatism, send us your prescription before ordering. We'll help identify the certified options that can accommodate it.

Certified Protective Sports Glasses for Kids

Protective eyewear is especially important for young athletes, but proper fit matters just as much as it does for adults.

A protective sports goggle that's too large can move around during play and may not sit where it was designed to sit around the eyes.

SportEyes carries certified protective sports eyewear in multiple sizes for:

• Young children
• Older children
• Teens
• Smaller adults
• Adults
• Larger faces

We also carry different colors and styles because we've learned over the years that kids are much more likely to wear protective eyewear consistently when they're comfortable with how it looks and feels.

If you're unsure about sizing, contact us before ordering.

ASTM F803 & F3164 vs. ANSI Z87.1

Another common source of confusion is the difference between sports protection and occupational safety eyewear.

ANSI Z87.1 is associated primarily with occupational eye and face protection.

ASTM F803 and ASTM F3164 address protective eyewear for specific sporting applications.

These standards aren't interchangeable simply because they all involve impact testing.

A pair of glasses meeting an ANSI workplace safety standard shouldn't automatically be assumed to meet the appropriate sports standard.

If you're buying eyewear for athletic impact protection, look for the applicable sports-specific certification.

Different Sports Can Require Different Standards

There isn't one certification that covers every sport.

That's why SportEyes doesn't recommend choosing a goggle simply because you see "ASTM" somewhere in the description.

For example:

ASTM F803 – Protective eyewear for applicable sports covered by that standard.

ASTM F3164 – Eye protectors for racquetball, squash, tennis, and pickleball.

ASTM F3077 – Associated with protective eyewear requirements for women's/girls' lacrosse.

ASTM F2713 – Sport-specific eye protection standard for field hockey.

Rugby has separate governing-body equipment considerations as well.

If you're purchasing eyewear for organized competition, also check the current requirements of your school, league, association, or governing body.

How to Choose the Right Certified Sports Eyewear

Start with the sport—not the frame.

Ask these questions:

1. What sport am I playing?
2. Which current standard applies to that sport?
3. Does this specific eyewear have documentation showing that it meets that standard?
4. Does it fit my face properly?
5. Can it accommodate my prescription?
6. Does it work with my helmet or other equipment, if applicable?

That's a much better approach than choosing a frame first and trying to determine afterward whether it provides the protection you need.

Why Eye Protection Matters to Our Family

Sports eye protection isn't just another product category for us.

A member of our family suffered a permanent eye injury after being hit by a baseball as a child. That experience is one of the reasons eye protection has remained such an important part of what we do at SportEyes.

We've spent more than 30 years helping athletes and parents understand their options.

That includes explaining something we think is particularly important:

Eyewear that looks protective and eyewear that has actually been tested to a recognized sports standard aren't necessarily the same thing.

We want customers to understand the difference so they can make an informed choice.

Why Buy Certified Sports Eyewear from SportEyes?

Protective sports eyewear can become complicated quickly.

You may need to consider:

• The sport
• The applicable standard
• Certification
• Prescription
• Astigmatism
• Prescription strength
• Face size
• Helmet compatibility
• Lens tint
• Fit

SportEyes has specialized in sports and prescription eyewear for more than 30 years.

We don't expect you to understand every ASTM standard or prescription mounting method before you shop with us.

That's what we're here for.

Tell us what sport you play and, if applicable, send us your prescription. We'll help you identify eyewear that meets the appropriate standard and works with your vision needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Sports Glasses

What is the difference between ASTM F803 and ASTM F3164?

ASTM F803 covers protective eyewear for specified sports, while ASTM F3164 is the current sport-specific standard for eye protectors used in racquetball, squash, tennis, and pickleball.

If you're specifically shopping for current-standard racquet-sports protection, look for F3164 certification.

What does ASTM F3164-24 mean?

F3164-24 is the current edition of ASTM's eye-protector standard for racquet sports, including racquetball, squash, tennis, and pickleball. It superseded the earlier F3164-19 edition.

Are all pickleball glasses ASTM F3164 certified?

No.

"Pickleball glasses" is a marketing description and doesn't automatically indicate that the eyewear meets ASTM F3164.

If certification matters to you, verify the specific standard for the particular product.

Are all sports goggles ASTM F803 certified?

No.

Sports eyewear can be designed for performance without meeting ASTM F803. Check the individual product information rather than assuming any goggle or wraparound sports frame is certified protective eyewear.

Does ASTM certify sports glasses?

ASTM develops the standards; it isn't the organization we should imply personally inspected, approved, or endorsed a particular pair of glasses.

When appropriate documentation exists, SportEyes describes eyewear as certified as meeting, conforming to, or complying with the applicable ASTM standard, rather than calling it "ASTM certified."

Does having polycarbonate lenses mean my glasses meet ASTM F803 or F3164?

No.

Polycarbonate is an impact-resistant lens material, but the entire frame-and-lens system must satisfy the requirements of the applicable standard.

Can certified sports goggles have prescription lenses?

Yes, many can.

However, the prescription lenses must be made in the appropriate material and configuration for the particular protective frame and certification.

SportEyes specializes in prescription protective sports eyewear.

Can I get certified sports glasses with a high prescription?

Often, yes.

Your options depend on the prescription, frame, sport, and applicable certification. SportEyes carries multiple prescription configurations specifically because one design can't accommodate every prescription.

Send us your prescription if you're unsure.

Are ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses the same as certified sports glasses?

No.

ANSI Z87.1 primarily addresses occupational eye protection, while ASTM F803 and F3164 are sports-related standards. One shouldn't automatically be substituted for another.

How do I know which certification I need?

Start with your sport.

For example, a basketball player may be looking for F803 protective eyewear, while a pickleball or tennis player looking for the current sport-specific standard should be looking at F3164.

For organized competition, check your league or governing body's current requirements as well.

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