French President Emmanuel Macron’s choice of striking blue reflective aviator sunglasses during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos has drawn significant attention. While Macron did not explicitly explain the reason for the accessory, reports suggest it is related to an ongoing medical condition.
Last week, Macron appeared at a military event in southern France with a red eye and donned a similar pair of sunglasses. He downplayed the condition, describing it as “totally benign” and “completely insignificant.” Macron even joked about it, calling it the “eye of the tiger” in reference to the Survivor song from the Rocky III film.
According to French reports, Macron appears to have suffered a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, which is a broken blood vessel in the eye. This condition is harmless, painless and does not affect vision, typically clearing within a fortnight. It can occur when a person sneezes, coughs vigorously, or pokes or rubs their eye. Those with diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk of developing this condition.
While sunglasses are not necessary to protect vision in such cases, some individuals choose to wear them to avoid drawing attention. Macron’s decision to wear the sunglasses has been attributed to “aesthetic reasons” as a public figure, as he may have wanted to protect his image and avoid being photographed with the noticeable eye condition.
The choice has sparked discussion on social media, with some referring to Macron as “kéké,” a French slang term for a show-off. Others have joked that he is emulating the look of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise in the 1986 film Top Gun, which made wearing aviator sunglasses a fashion statement.
In the speech he delivered while wearing the sunglasses, Macron warned against a shift towards autocracy and “a world without rules, where international law is trampled underfoot” and “imperial ambitions are resurfacing.” This was particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing trade tensions between the US and several European countries, including France, over Trump’s proposed tariffs.
Macron’s choice of eyewear has undoubtedly added an intriguing element to his public appearance at the Davos summit, sparking discussions and speculation among observers and the media.