French President Emmanuel Macron turned heads in Davos by wearing aviators indoors. Before you start talking to your boss in sunglasses, be advised that Macron's eyewear choice was not meant as a trendsetting fashion flex – at least officially. Davos (dpa) – If the French president can address world leaders, company executives and wealthy elites on global security matters in a pair of aviators, then perhaps all of us can too? French President Emmanuel Macron made what appeared to be a bold fashion choice on Tuesday, wearing a pair of sunglasses while speaking to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos. However, his choice of eyewear was not an attempt at trend-setting, but rather due to a health issue: He is suffering from a temporary condition which turns part of the eyeball red. French media first reported on Macron wearing the sunglasses on Thursday at a New Year's address to the French armed forces, where he reassured the audience about his health despite the "unsightly" bloodshot appearance of his right eye. At Davos, Macron continued to wear the sunglasses as he met attendees and joined meetings. AI-generated videos suggesting Macron was covering a black eye have appeared on X, however footage of Macron addressing troops shared by his X account shows he does indeed have a slightly reddened right eye. 'Generally considered rude' For anyone considering donning shades for their next team meeting, fashion brands and etiquette specialists are firmly convinced that indoor sunglasses are still a no-go. "Unless you have a medical issue that requires you to wear sunglasses inside or you've achieved single-name celebrity status, it's generally considered rude to keep your shades on indoors, especially in office buildings," US eyewear brand American Optical tells customers. "As a general rule, one does not, and should not, wear sunglasses indoors," Jo Hayes, founder of the Etiquette Expert website, told the Huffington Post in July. Macron's choice of eyewear to cover a blemish was more suave than that of then-German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who donned a pirate-like eyepatch in 2023 after injuring himself in a fall while jogging. Macron is believed to be suffering from what's known as a subconjunctival haemorrhage. The white part of your eye is covered by a clear membrane called the conjunctiva, under which are many tiny blood vessels – or capillaries – that can easily burst. "If it happens spontaneously and for no apparent reason, the redness is often harmless and disappears on its own after a while," says Dr Philipp Steven, senior physician in the Department of Ophthalmology at Cologne University Hospital in Germany. Indeed, Macron told the French armed forces the same: "It's something completely harmless." Red eye can be caused by straining on the toilet Heavy lifting or straining to have a bowel movement may also cause a capillary in your eye to burst. "Pressure from a coughing fit or strong sneeze can even do it," explains ophthalmologist Dr Andrea Lietz-Partzsch. The leaking blood can spread over part or all of the eyeball. "Simply rubbing your eye can cause a haemorrhage as well," Steven says. If you have recurrent subconjunctival haemorrhages within a short period of time, you should be examined by an ophthalmologist. You should see an eye doctor promptly if a burst capillary results in impaired vision or your red eye was caused by an injury, such as being struck by a ball or scratched by a thorn while gardening. But if you get a red eye and notice no ill effects, you can generally wait to see if the redness goes away. Should it persist for more than two days, however, it is advisable to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to determine the cause. It's a good idea to be examined by a specialist for internal medicine too, according to Andrea Lietz-Partzsch, "because a red eye can also be a symptom of a serious illness." Recurrent burst capillaries in the eye may be an indication of high blood pressure, which, if left untreated, can at worst lead to a stroke. A blood-clotting disorder is another possible cause, which should be treated as well. And if you regularly take certain medications, including blood thinners, you can be more prone to localized bleeding – "not only in your eye, but in other parts of the body too," Steven says. A possible sign of ageing or dry eyes "It's also possible that your eyes, perhaps due to the ageing process, are simply overly dry," points out Lietz-Partzsch. Dryness often makes the eyes so sensitive that even rubbing them lightly can cause redness. A doctor can recommend an ointment to alleviate the symptoms. As Steven notes, subconjunctival haemorrhages "almost always" occur in just one eye at a time. Redness in both eyes at once is often due to an allergy or infection with a virus or bacteria. Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) or keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) often cause reddened eyes as well. If you have a red eye from a burst capillary, you should avoid strenuous physical work, intensive sport and heavy lifting to allow the blood in your eye to recede. "Otherwise," Steven warns, "there's a risk of a capillary bursting again and prolongation of the redness." The following information is not intended for publication dpa coh hm
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