While speaking at the Davos summit on Tuesday, French president Emmanuel Macron drew attention for his stern rebuke of US leader Donald Trump’s threat to tariff eight European countries opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland. But another aspect of Macron’s speech also made an impression: his choice of eyewear. The French leader wore a striking pair of blue reflective aviator sunglasses indoors while addressing world leaders at the World Economic Forum.
While Macron did not explain the reason for the accessory during his speech, French reports have attributed it to an ongoing medical condition. Last week, he appeared at a military event in southern France with a red eye and at one point donned a similar pair of sunglasses. While addressing troops, he downplayed his condition and said it was “totally benign” and “completely insignificant”, adding: “Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye.” Macron even joked about it, calling it “l’oeil du tigre” or the “eye of the tiger”, in a reference to rock band Survivor’s song used in the 1982 boxing movie Rocky III.
“For those who get the reference, it’s a sign of determination,” he said. French reports said that Macron appeared to have a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, which is a broken blood vessel in his eye. It is harmless, painless and does not affect vision.
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It also does not cause permanent injury to the eye as it usually clears within a fortnight. It sometimes occurs when a person sneezes or coughs vigorously, or pokes or rubs their eye. Those with diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk of suffering from the condition. While sunglasses are not necessary to protect vision, those who have the condition may choose to wear glasses to avoid attracting attention.
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