[Central serous chorioretinopathy: etiology and pathogenesis]

The review of the literature is devoted to the topical problem of retinology, namely the etiology and pathogenesis of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). It presents historical facts of studying this problem, basic theories of the development of the disease, and principles of its classification. The bulk of the review touches upon the impact of stress on the development of choriocapillary-Bruch's membrane-retinal pigment epithelium system dysfunction. A human stress reaction is accompanied by the poorest hypokinetic type of circulation. This gives rive to a significant hypertensive reaction (the highest systemic pressure), by showing a considerable increase in the total peripheral vascular resistance; there is also a high baseline cortisol level with a tendency towards depleted reserves of the pituitary-adrenal system and imbalance in the pituitary-thyroid system. A chief role has been recently assigned to these changes in the recurrence and development of complications in CSC.