diff --git a/qiskit/transpiler/passes/optimization/optimize_annotated.py b/qiskit/transpiler/passes/optimization/optimize_annotated.py
index 1b567ae381f..65d06436cc5 100644
--- a/qiskit/transpiler/passes/optimization/optimize_annotated.py
+++ b/qiskit/transpiler/passes/optimization/optimize_annotated.py
@@ -26,7 +26,24 @@
 
 
 class OptimizeAnnotated(TransformationPass):
-    """Optimization pass on circuits with annotated operations."""
+    """Optimization pass on circuits with annotated operations.
+
+    Implemented optimizations:
+
+    * For each annotated operation, converting the list of its modifiers to a canonical form.
+      For example, consecutively applying ``inverse()``, ``control(2)`` and ``inverse()``
+      is equivalent to applying ``control(2)``.
+
+    * Removing annotations when possible.
+      For example, ``AnnotatedOperation(SwapGate(), [InverseModifier(), InverseModifier()])``
+      is equivalent to ``SwapGate()``.
+
+    * Recursively combining annotations.
+      For example, if ``g1 = AnnotatedOperation(SwapGate(), InverseModifier())`` and
+      ``g2 = AnnotatedOperation(g1, ControlModifier(2))``, then ``g2`` can be replaced with
+      ``AnnotatedOperation(SwapGate(), [InverseModifier(), ControlModifier(2)])``.
+
+    """
 
     def __init__(
         self,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/add-optimize-annotated-pass-89ca1823e7109f81.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/add-optimize-annotated-pass-89ca1823e7109f81.yaml
index 1dc8b6fa2dd..8f06124b99f 100644
--- a/releasenotes/notes/add-optimize-annotated-pass-89ca1823e7109f81.yaml
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/add-optimize-annotated-pass-89ca1823e7109f81.yaml
@@ -54,11 +54,13 @@ features:
     In the case of ``gate3``, multiple layers of annotations are combined into one.
 
     The constructor of :class:`.OptimizeAnnotated` pass accepts optional
-    arguments ``target``, ``equivalence_library`` and ``basis_gates``.
-    When either ``target`` or ``basis_gates`` are specified, the pass is recursive
-    and descends into the gates ``definition`` circuits, with the exception of
-    gates that are already supported by the target or that belong to the equivalence
-    library. On the other hand, when neither ``target`` nor ``basis_gates`` are specified,
+    arguments ``target``, ``equivalence_library``,  ``basis_gates`` and ``recurse``.
+    When ``recurse`` is ``True`` (the default value) and when either ``target``
+    or ``basis_gates`` are specified, the pass recursively descends into the gates
+    ``definition`` circuits, with the exception of gates that are already supported
+    by the target or that belong to the equivalence library. On the other hand, when
+    neither ``target`` nor ``basis_gates`` are specified,
+    or when ``recurse`` is set to ``False``,
     the pass synthesizes only the "top-level" annotated operations, i.e. does not
     recursively descend into the ``definition`` circuits. This behavior is consistent
     with that of :class:`.HighLevelSynthesis` transpiler pass that needs to be called