| |
Compare Lightboxes
F.A.Q.
Light Specs
100% Guarantee
Testimonials
About Us
Contact Us
Insurance Reimburse
Directions
Light Therapy Info
Resources
|
|
Bright light
therapy box buying guide & comparison chart
 For
suffers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or other seasonal disorders there
are a lot of different light therapy products available.
With so many choices, how do you make an
educated decision?
You need to understand the important features of a light box used for therapy.
Price should not be your primary
deciding feature. Money spent on an inexpensive low LUX light that does not
delivery the needed therapeutic benefits is money wasted. Following the below
chart are some criteria you should know about and consider before buying.
This comparison chart is only for
doing a quick comparison between some of the main, more established manufactures
and their similar products. Prices and specs change so check to make sure these
figures are up to date. You'll find other companies with lights as well, do
check them out, but we believe you'll find that for the money we offer the best
product, service and guarantee available. And remember if you are not 100%
happy, we'll give you 100% of all the money you spent back!
Special Note: (1)
The Litebook IS NOT
a 10,000 LUX light source as are all the other lights listed. The only reason we
have included it in this chart is because some people have asked us about it.
(2) LUX specification given by the manufacturer for
this light is only 5,000 LUX at 8 inches, which is roughly 10,000 LUX at only 4
inches. (3) Price is based on a $15.00 shipping and
handling fee.
Points to remember when
buying:
Studies on the effectiveness of light therapy on S.A.D. patients have concluded
that treatment with 2500 lux light boxes ease symptoms effectively, but take
anywhere from two to six hours exposure every day. More recent studies have used
powerful 10,000- units, which produce comparable or even somewhat superior
results with only about a half an hour of exposure.
One of the most important variables between light boxes is "the
distance of the 10,000 lux brightness range from the light box."
This will dramatically affect how you will use your light box. The greater the
10,000-lux distance, the farther away you can be while getting your light
treatment. This makes it convenient to do other tasks such as eating your
breakfast, working on a computer or reading a book while receiving your light
treatment.
**Dozens of studies have shown
that a daily exposure to bright light can relieve most or all symptoms in up to
80% of SAD patients. When light therapy works, it works fast. Symptoms typically
start to subside within a few days:
if the dose is adequate,
the full effect is achieved within about a week. To remain effective, light
therapy must continue until springtime.
**Several companies sell portable home-use light units for $300 to $550, though
the Food and Drug Administration hasn't yet approved the devices as safe and
effective for treating SAD. Safety concerns have focused on exposure to
ultraviolet (UV) light, which can ultimately cause sunburn, eye damage, and skin
cancer. Fortunately, recent studies have shown that UV rays are not an essential
component of light therapy; units that emit almost no UV light are just as
effective. Lights that are listed as full spectrum will emit UV light compared
to broad spectrum lights which omit the UV light. See a more complete
description below.
**Most researchers believe that the devices are as safe as they are effective.
"In over 10 years of using light boxes in thousands of patients," National
Institute of Mental Health Director Frederick Goodwin, M.D., assured the FDA,
"the number of serious side effects reported has been vanishingly small."
** Consumer Reports on Health, February 1993, "The Winter of Your
Discontent:"
Full spectrum
or Broad spectrum, what is the difference?
Full spectrum light bulbs are made to try
to imitate natural sunlight, and like sunlight, they also produce UV rays.
Typically full spectrum bulbs have a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 90 or above
(100 is actual outdoor light) and a kelvin temperature of 5,000 or above. Full
spectrum light is described as having a purple or bluish cast. Most light box
companies using full spectrum light bulbs now block these UV rays through their
diffuser screen, it's good to check to be sure.
Broad spectrum light boxes are described
as being as close to full spectrum as you can get without the UV rays. Typically
they have a CRI. of around 82 and a kelvin temperature of around 4200. Broad
spectrum light bulbs are described as being a pure white light. Most light box
companies use a broad spectrum light bulb so that there is no danger of UV rays.
Also see: Broad Spectrum vs
Full, Proper Usage
|
|
