Image with patient permission. © Ravi Goel, MD (2026).
I saw news footage of French President Emmanuel Macron wearing sunglasses while addressing attendees at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.
News reports indicated that the President was experiencing a subconjunctival hemorrhage. A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a relatively common condition caused by bleeding on the surface of the eye, beneath the clear conjunctival tissue. It can occur with stress, straining, coughing, or lifting something heavy, and is more commonly seen in patients taking blood thinners.
(Courtesy of Olga M. Cerón, MD, American Academy of Ophthalmology Image Collection, aao.org)
In most cases, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is harmless and resolves on its own within 1–2 weeks.
I remember during my ophthalmology residency when patients would come into the office in tears, convinced they had suffered a devastating eye condition. One patient told me her coworkers were “grossed out” by the appearance.
In reality, this is one of the most benign conditions ophthalmologists see. While patients should be advised to monitor for any changes in vision and seek evaluation for recurrent episodes—often with their primary care physician—subconjunctival hemorrhages themselves are usually far more alarming in appearance than in significance.
Image via Reuters YouTube feed screenshot
Ravi D. Goel, MD is a comprehensive ophthalmologist, cataract & refractive surgeon in Cherry Hill, NJ. He is an Instructor at the Wills Eye Hospital. Contact Dr. Goel for media inquiries here.
