To compete at the highest level in all three divisions, Anna Leigh Waters needs to see things clearly, and a new partnership with Pilla Performance Eyewear is a perfect fit.

The 18-year-old superstar doesn’t just wear glasses on the court for eye protection, she wears them to help her see. In fact, Waters says her pickleball game went from intermediate to elite after realizing that she needed prescription glasses. Prior to that, she struggled mightily to see the ball properly.

In the past, however, her glasses were never the height of fashion. I’d argue that they were more function than fashion. Sure, they were classically sporty in shape and style, but they weren’t trendsetting... at least until she began wearing Pilla.

Pilla Performance Eyewear is a world leader in high performance lens technology and boasts leading the evolution of visual performance in sport. For over 30 years, Pilla built its reputation in shooting sports with frame innovation and lens color filtration. Pilla has since partnered with ZEISS, a respected optics company, to create an expert lenses for elite athletes.

This marks Waters’ first eyewear partnership and the collab brings Pilla’s ZEISS-engineered optics to women’s pickleball for the first time. Her women’s doubles partner Anna Bright also sports the glasses, as do CJ Klinger and Will Howells on the men's side.

“Pilla glasses give me the visual clarity that helps me play at my best,” said Waters in the press release. “Every detail is sharper, every reaction is faster, and I finish matches with fresher eyes and more confidence. Reaction time is critical for me. A fraction of a second makes all the difference, so this partnership with Pilla is a game-changer.”

The winningest player in PPA Tour history was hooked on the product from the start.

“When I first tried Pilla glasses in a practice, I actually stopped mid-rally because I could see the holes in the ball and there was zero ball drag,” she praised. “The definition is next level.”

Pilla manufactures more than 50 different lens technologies to manage light, enhance color, and fine-tune depth of field in any condition. The coatings also provide full protection against UV, reduce infrared light and 99% of reflected light, eliminate visual ball drag, and relax the eyes white sharpening focus. 

The result is heightened visual awareness, improved motor reflex, and reduced fatigue during long tournament days and harsh lighting.

Waters can easily insert her prescription lenses as well.

And best of all, they are fashionable, functional, and just look cool.

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