My uveitis had an autoimmune origin. I knew almost immediately when it flared up so I would call my ophthalmologist who would see me quickly. I asked my ophthalmologist whether or not I should just take Prednisone whenever my symptoms started. My ophthalmologist said never take Prednisone without me seeing him first. He said with uveitis there could be an underlying infectious process going on and Prednisone could make it worse.

My uveitis was "aggressive" and my vision deteriorated quickly. It was also painful and very red from inflammation. It was hard for me not to notice when it flared. However, my ophthalmologist said uveitis can be chronic and the inflammation can simmer for a long time before a person begins to notice. He said the chronic type of inflammation can do damage as much as my acute flares of uveitis.

I would never say that I knew it was a flare of uveitis. I would say "I might be having a flare of uveitis." That was enough to warrant an urgent eye exam. Supposedly you have to be seen to know if you have uveitis or not. Someone would need to diagnose it and decide what caused it. Like many things in medicine ... it can be idiopathic.