French President Emmanuel Macron made a striking appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, sporting reflective aviator sunglasses reminiscent of Top Gun while delivering his keynote speech. The unusual accessory was not a fashion statement but rather an attempt to conceal a medical issue affecting his right eye.
The Elysée Palace confirmed that Macron is suffering from a burst blood vessel, medically known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, in his right eye. The condition, while visually alarming, is generally harmless and typically resolves on its own within a few weeks without treatment.
The eye problem was first publicly noticed during Macron's address to the armed forces last Thursday at the Istres air base in southern France, where his right eye appeared noticeably bloodshot. Since then, the president has been photographed wearing sunglasses at multiple events, including indoor meetings at the Elysée Palace where he signed the Elysée-Oudinot Accord concerning New Caledonia.
Attempting to lighten the mood surrounding his unexpected look, Macron joked that the appearance could be seen as an accidental nod to Eye of the Tiger, the iconic Rocky III anthem symbolizing determination and fighting spirit. He opened a meeting on Monday by apologizing for the shades, stating that he has to wear them for a while.
The French president has not disclosed what caused the eye injury, though subconjunctival hemorrhages can result from various factors including eye strain, sneezing, coughing, or minor trauma. Medical experts note that while the condition looks concerning, it poses no threat to vision and typically heals without intervention within one to two weeks.