Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Central Serous Retinopathy: Causes and Risk Factors By Vanessa Caceres Vanessa Caceres Twitter Vanessa Caceres is a nationally published health journalist with over 15 years of experience covering medical topics including eye health, cardiology, and more. Learn about our editorial process Published on November 01, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Bryan M. Wolynski, OD Medically reviewed by Bryan M. Wolynski, OD LinkedIn Bryan Wolynski, OD, is a board-certified community optometrist who has been in the eye care field for over 30 years. He works in private practice in New York City. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Central serous retinopathy, also called central serous chorioretinopathy or CSR, is the name for a buildup of fluid under the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. It's not always known what causes central serous retinopathy, but stress and the use of corticosteroid medications are two risk factors for it. This article will review common causes and risk factors for central serous retinopathy. Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images Common Causes Health experts are not entirely sure what causes central serous retinopathy. For now, they focus on risk factors that make someone more likely to develop central serous retinopathy. Young, myopic (nearsighted) males are more likely to develop central serous retinopathy than others. Those with a greater degree of myopia are at a higher risk. CSR is also more common in people who are in their mid-40s. Yet anyone can develop the disease. Stress Stress has been shown to be a significant risk factor for developing central serous retinopathy. A 2021 study found that patients with central serous retinopathy had a higher level of reactivity to stressful life events than those without the condition. Patients with the condition also demonstrated fewer traits associated with emotional intelligence. Lifestyle Risk Factors Although the cause of central serous retinopathy is not clear, health experts associate certain risk factors with its development. Those risk factors include: Being pregnant Decongestant use, a type of medicine for nasal congestion Erectile dysfunction medication use Having an autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune diseases result from the body attacking its own immune system) Having a Helicobacter pylori infection, a type of bacteria that affects the stomach Having certain kidney diseases, such as membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II Heart disease High blood pressure High levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone released with stress that can develop into Cushing's syndrome Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or sleep apnea, stopping and starting breathing repeatedly during sleep The release of catecholamines in the body, which are substances released during stress that include adrenaline, dopamine, and norepinephrine Type A behavior, usually seen as aggressive, rushed, and competitive Using a drug containing corticosteroids, which treats inflammation in the body and can be taken orally or intranasally Using stimulants, which is a type of medicine that increases energy Using certain types of anticancer drugs Sometimes, having a combination of these risk factors can increase your chance of developing central serous retinopathy. If you have central serous retinopathy, let your eye doctor know about any medications you use. Summary There is not a lot known about the cause of central serous retinopathy. However, health researchers do know of several factors that may increase your risk for it, such as using corticosteroid medicines, being under a lot of stress, and having a type A personality. Men also experience central serous retinopathy more often than women. Young males who are nearsighted and have a type A personality are the most common group. A Word From Verywell Although the cause of central serous retinopathy is unclear, eye doctors are well versed in diagnosing and treating it. If you experience blurry vision and other symptoms associated with central serous retinopathy, set an appointment with an eye doctor to find out the exact cause. If you know you have central serous retinopathy, keep any follow-up appointments with your eye doctor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Central serous choroidopathy. Sesar AP, Sesar A, Bucan K, Sesar I, Cvitkovic K, Cavar I. Personality traits, stress, and emotional intelligence associated with central serous chorioretinopathy. Med Sci Monit. 2021;27:e928677. doi:10.12659/MSM.928677 American Society of Retinal Specialists. Central serous chorioretinopathy. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is central serous chorioretinopathy? Semeraro F, Morescalchi F, Russo A, et al. Central serous retinopathy: Pathogenesis and management. Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13: 2341–2352. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S220845