It is also known as central serous choroidopathy or central serous chorioretinopathy. It is characterized by the accumulation of serous fluid under the retina, above the deeper choroid layer. It occurs centrally, in the macula which is at the back of the eye, in the bull's eye center of the retina. It is the part of the eye that allows us to see fine details such as the numbers on a watch, the features on someone's face, or the amount of spices poured from a container. This causes distortion of one's vision. This disease can be diagnosed with fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT).

While most cases resolve on their own in a matter of weeks or months, many patients can have recurrences. A few patients may develop a chronic form with permanent vision loss. Some patients may also require laser or photodynamic therapy after careful evaluation. While the exact cause of this disease is not known, it tends to occur in young otherwise healthy individuals, more commonly in males. The triggers of this disease are also unknown, but stress may be a factor. Steroids of all forms (intravenous, oral, inhaled, topical eye drops, topical skin creams, etc.) have been known to greatly exacerbate this condition.