What condition is indicated by a "curtain" effect over the visual field with occasional flashes of light?

The "curtain" effect over the visual field, combined with occasional flashes of light, is a classic indication of retinal detachment. In this condition, the retina, which is crucial for capturing visual information and sending it to the brain, becomes separated from the underlying supportive tissue. This separation can cause a significant loss of vision and can feel like a shadow or curtain coming down over the visual field, often accompanied by visual disturbances such as flashes or floaters.

This symptomatology stands out distinctly from macular degeneration, which typically presents with a gradual loss of central vision and does not usually include the abrupt curtain effect. Cataracts cause clouding of the lens and have different visual distortions associated with them, such as blurriness or halos around lights, but not the phenomenon of a curtain or flashes. Glaucoma primarily involves increased intraocular pressure and may lead to peripheral vision loss, but it is not characterized by a curtain effect and flashes of light as seen in retinal detachments. Hence, the indication of a "curtain" effect with flashes aligns specifically with the acute and urgent condition of retinal detachment.