Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Light Therapy Lamps - Medically Certified

Fluorescent Light Boxes

In the early 1980s, Herb Kern, a research engineer, who thought that his annual cycle of depression might be caused by the shorter and duller daylight hours in winter, approached doctors working at the National Institute for Mental Health in Bethesda, USA. They proposed a treatment where he was exposed to light, equivalent to summer sunlight, for several hours each day. By the fourth day his symptoms had virtually disappeared.

Fluorescent light boxes have been studied for the last 25 years and have become the gold standard SAD treatment. They are known to be safe and without any short or long term side affects. Countless studies have been conducted with large respondent samples and placebo controls. As lighting technology has advanced and with the advent of the 10,000 lux box, treatment times have been reduced to only 30 minutes.

So fluorescent Light boxes are safe and affective, but which one is the best to go for?

There are a variety of lights which are utilised by light boxes. Broad spectrum tubes give out approximately 25% more light than Daylight tubes; however, many people prefer the light quality of the daylight tubes.

At Britebox light therapy we prefer the daylight tubes as they are a closer to matching the light spectrum that we are missing (daylight). Although we know that bright light will reduce melatonin, researchers are still not clear on what affects the other light spectrums are having on our hormonal disposition, therefore it may be prudent not to miss out too much of the spectrum. All of our light boxes are UV free.

Medical Certification

It is imperative that you check that the light box which you are going to buy has been medically certified and manufactured to the high standards set by Medical Devices Regulatory bodies. Such a device will have a number under the CE mark which denotes the Authorising body used.

It has come to our attention that some cheap products are being imported from Taiwan. These units claim to be 10,000 Lux, however our tests show that they are 10,000 Lux at a distance of 5cm which makes them redundant as a SAD treatment. Further, you will not be surprised to hear that they do not have medical certification…

Britebox light therapy and related products are all medically certified. Please view our medical certificate

Blue-light hazard. (Blue and White LED’s)

There has been a recent appearance on the market of a number of small and sometimes hand-held light therapy devices incorporating either blue or white LEDs. These products are being advertised as effective treatments of SAD. Britebox light therapy has reviewed the data on these products and has concluded that they are not well researched and may indeed cause an early onset of Age Related Macular Degeneration.

We will, however, draw on the conclusions of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA) to highlight our position on Blue and White LED’s:

An article by Amanda Cross, SADA Science and Technical Officer (October 2007)

It is indeed true that there have been studies which have indicated that melatonin suppression is under the control of specific wavelengths of light, and that blue or white LEDs may be effective in the treatment of SAD. However, (and this is a big "but") there does not yet appear to be enough scientific evidence to be sure of the effectiveness and/or any long term side effects of such blue or white LED devices in the treatment of SAD.

The first disadvantage of the clinical trials which have been carried out to date, is that most of them have been too small to give conclusive results, with often less than 30 subjects participating. The results of such trials must be interpreted with caution and the results of the trials indicate that larger trials are now required in order to provide more definitive information about the efficacy and safety of LED devices.

The second problem is with regard to the safety of such devices and the potential long term effects of using LED products. It is now widely accepted that traditional 10,000 Lux bright white light is safe. However questions have been raised about blue light safety and the use of white and blue LEDs, both of which emit light with peaks in the blue end of spectrum.

Light-induced photochemical damage to the eyes is particularly related to light at the blue wavelength. This type of damage to the retina is known as "blue-light hazard". Older people are particularly susceptible to such light induced retinal damage.

It should also be remembered that recent studies most certainly do not establish blue light or LED products as uniquely effective for SAD. Even the manufacturers of such alternative devices would have difficulty in discounting all of the valuable and universally accepted research regarding the use of bright white light. The consensus, at least amongst the scientific community, seems to be that before such a bold assertion regarding a higher efficacy of LED products can even be hinted at, then many further and larger studies with different comparison conditions must be carried out.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness and safety of blue light and LED products. SADA does not currently therefore recommend that members use such devices in the treatment of SAD until further research has been carried out.

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