Having had a stroke in 1998, she suffered a minor attack just before Christmas, and another in March. BBC News Online talks to experts in the care of stroke patients. Between a quarter and a third of people suffer from visual impairment after a stroke. The eyes will continue to 'see' as there is no damage to the eyes, but the signals to the brain are not interpreted because that part of the brain has been affected by the stroke. The pathways between the brain and the eyes are very complex.
Recurrent strokes Having more than one stroke can mean patients have more problems recovering.
Dr Tony Rudd, a stroke expert from Guys and St Thomas's Hospital in London said there were always concerns when people had recurrent strokes. Although people can make quite good recoveries after a stroke, very often they are going to be left with some permanent problems. He said Princess Margaret's reportedly positive attitude should help her recovery, though he said the more strokes a person suffered, the harder it can be to recover. He told BBC News Online the risk would be 15 times that of someone who has not had a stroke. In addition to her suspected stroke before Christmas, Princess Margaret is known to have had a stroke in 1998.