PARIS, Sept 3: French President Jacques Chirac, 72, was hospitalized after suffering a minor vision problem that doctors said had been caused by a ‘vascular incident’, the main military hospital in Paris said on Saturday.
“The president of the republic was hospitalised last night (Friday) at the Val de Grace hospital for a minor vascular incident that led to a slight vision disorder, which should be over within a few days,” it said in a statement.
“The president of the republic is expected to remain hospitalised for about one week,” the statement said.
A leading British cardiologist, Piers Clifford, said Chirac had “almost certainly” suffered a transient ischemic attack, which he said is “like a mini-stroke” in which a small blood clot “lodges in the retinal artery, causing restriction in the field of vision.”
He said most patients recover as the clot dissolves, but “it is possible that the damage becomes permanent.”
The condition is normally treated with anti-platelet agents and anti-coagulants.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said he had spoken to Chirac at length on Saturday.
“Naturally, we discussed the agenda of the coming days and in particular the offers of aid and assistance to our American friends faced with the terrible catastrophe that has struck the south of their country,” Villepin told reporters.
Mr Villepin visited Mr Chirac in the hospital later in the day.
Known for his strong constitution, the French president has enjoyed robust health through a long political career and has had no major medical problems. He used to be a heavy smoker but gave up many years ago.
In Nov 2003 there was a brief flurry of speculation after it was reported that he wore a hearing-aid in his left ear. —AFP
