If you’re confused about the differences between bright white light therapy, blue LED light and low-intensity green light therapy, you’re in the right place. Rather than pull the covers over your head and give up, give me a minute.
Lots of Research into Light Treatment for Depression
That’s good news. Researchers are learning more all the time about using light therapy to treat non-seasonal depression, bipolar disorder and depression in teens. It’s encouraging and exciting. It also makes it more confusing to sort through the recommendations.
If you take the time to read through all the research articles linked to from the lightbox manufacturers’ websites, you’ll find medical experts who support each kind of light therapy and medical experts in opposition. So, who’s right?
Everyone has the right answer. Just not all the answers.
The oversimplified answer: They all are. To some degree.
The ultimate, unanswered question in all of this research comes down to whether there is long-term risk and eye damage from the different kinds of light therapy. The bright light supporters say they have the most evidence from 25 years of research that bright white light is not a risk.
The blue LED light supporters say the shorter, blue wavelengths are more effective and not a risk. The green light advocates say everyone else is wrong and only low-intensity green light is the safest and most effective.
At this point, I have used all but green light over the past nine years of light therapy. I started with standard, bright white light therapy and it was effective, although I had to periodically increase my treatment time. I used a blue LED light for about four years and it also was effective, but I also needed increase my treatment time periodically.
I’m currently using the Litebook Elite white LED and it is effective in 15 minutes, but I haven’t been using it long enough to know if I will need to increase treatment times during long, dark stretches. (Disclaimer: Litebook sent me its product to review.)
Consider Your Risk
As I’ve written in previous posts, the way you will use the light and the amount of time you have to use it are considerations in your purchase. Your risk level is another consideration. I have healthy eyes that show no change after nearly 10 years of light therapy, about four of those years with a blue light.
If you have an eye condition, eye disease or think you may be at more risk for developing macular degeneration, you may want to consider avoiding blue light. Some research has shown that the damage from blue light occurs over a longer time range. Consider using a lower-intensity white light, increasing the distance from your face, or raising the overall level of background light in your home or environment. Talk to your ophthalmologist.
If you’re attracted to the smaller size of the blue LED lights and the average, 15-minute treatment time but are leery of blue light, consider the white LED Litebook. Larry Pederson, founder of The Litebook Ltd., and a Canadian SAD sufferer, told me that his product combines the effect of blue light and green light, effectively closing down the iris just enough to achieve the beneficial effect but avoiding retinal damage.
Too easy? Don’t Stare Into the Light
If none of this discussion convinces you, seek a second opinion. I turned to one of the most respected medical institutions, The Mayo Clinic, for its advice on light therapy. Regarding the concern of retinal damage from blue light, I quote: “To help reduce this risk, don’t look directly at the light source in any light therapy box. Check with the manufacturer if you have concerns about a light box’s safety.”
Simple enough. We don’t stare directly into the sun; we shouldn’t stare directly into any light therapy box, either.
My research into current light therapy boxes on the market for The Winter Blues Coach 2010 Guide to Light Therapy Lights turned up a new, interesting wrinkle: The use of a dawn simulator to replace light therapy, instead of supplement it. It’s an idea I’m going to read about and may try in January, after the hectic holidays and when I can deal with a relapse, should that happen.
Here’s the Winter Blues Coach Guide to Light Therapy Lamps
If you’re suffering, buy a light and start using it. Here is the The Winter Blues Coach 2010 Guide to Light Therapy Lamps to help you make that choice. Let me know how I can support you.
Next post: More about dawn simulators
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What a great resource!