i was close
so, this time it wasn't epischleritis. it was iritis. instead of an inflammation of the outer layer of the eye, it's an inflammation/infection of the inner eye. basic same symptoms, except this time it didn't go better. so i went to my "healthcare provider", who referred me to an opthamologist, who gave me the diagnoses, along with a couple of different eyedrops. just as i've been telling my parents, they don't know what causes it. i'm just lucky i guess ;)