CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old female patient presented with a unilateral deterioration of visual acuity, metamorphopsia and a paracentral scotoma. The patient had suffered from a viral rhinitis 1 week prior to the ophthalmological symptoms. DIAGNOSTICS: Fundoscopy revealed parafoveal changes in the retinal pigment epithelium and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) disclosed corresponding hyperreflective, subretinal changes with disruption of Bruch\'s membrane and the outer limiting membrane. In the course of the disease there was a spontaneous regression of these changes. Visual acuity improved and the central scotoma resolved. The patient showed the typical history and clinical findings of unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy. CONCLUSION: The most probable explanation for the patient\'s symptoms is an immunologically triggered adverse reaction due to a previous viral rhinitis, with participation of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. As a rule the disease has a spontaneous and favorable course.