Lightphoria, 10,000 Lux Energy Light Lamp

Without others to compare to I will only say that light therapy works and this therapy light provides what is needed to accomplish, at least in my case, dramatic improvement in mood, sleep, and overall disposition. I realize now that mood and the ability to get proper sleep are linked and work together spiraling downward or upward. The unit itself is lightweight (some, if not many, reviews may call it "cheap") but it isn't intended to be used as a club. I do however treat it "gently" especially regarding the fold-out stand. The device puts out plenty of light and achieves everything that "therapy lights" claim to achieve. Mood change comparing the previous month to this month was nothing short of dramatic. In my work schedule the amount of light deprivation this time of year is extreme, getting maybe 3 hours per day and I try to use the unit approximately 2 hours per day at three different time intervals. More is merrier and it's not like you can overdose on light!). The timer function I found more useful than previously thought and allows at least a summary monitoring of daily use. If you have any suspicion you may be affected by SAD or simply need a morning bump I recommend this unit as a compact, easy to transport and use device with all the features you would ever need. I don't call it a "sad" light I refer to it to everyone I speak to about it as my "happy" light. The unit comes with a nylon carry bag. The bag itself is light-weight but adequate. In order to provide more protection for my unit (which gets tossed into a suitcase) I cut tow pieces of the foam packing material that it shipped in to match the outer dimension of the light and "sandwich" the light between them when putting it in the bag, then I roll up the power plug and cord and place it against the back-side of the light.

I recently moved Washington state and think I may be suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during my first winter here. Although I don't mind rainy days and don't feel really depressed, I do feel very sluggish and tired all the time. I feel groggy most mornings and can't seem to fully wake up. This is a problem, because I feel slow, sleepy, and confused at work and want to spend the weekends in bed. Even when napping and getting 9 hours of sleep, I still felt groggy and exhausted, like my brain was in slow motion and couldn't think clearly and my eyes keep wanting to slip closed all day. I considered what might be causing this for some time and finally decided to try a therapy light. I actually decided to purchase 2. I got a sunrise alarm for at home and purchased this little Sphere Lightphoria box for at work. I had read many people say online that they needed a little mid-day pick-me-up while at work. I have to admit, the size and pricing on this model appealed to me, because I didn't want to spend a lot and didn't want a huge light box at work, taking up a lot of desk space and getting in my way. This unit is nice and has 3 intensity settings of low, mid, and hi and 3 time settings of 15, 30, 45 minutes. At first I tried it on the Hi setting, but it was giving me headaches and as a result, I stopped using it for about a week after 2 days of headaches all day. I read an article that suggested trying the lights at a lower setting for shorter amounts of time to get used to them. I tried it on mid for 15 minutes and found it a lot less distracting (so I didn't keep looking at it) and did not get a headache. Since then I have been using it once or twice a day on the mid setting for 30 minutes and have definitely had good results. Even though I did not feel depressed before, I feel cheerier now. I am most definitely feeling awake and able to use my brain a lot more effectively at work. I feel like I went from super-slow speed to normal speed in my every day actions. I do not feel perpetually sleepy and groggy. I am now functioning at full capacity and feel more perky in general, so this light has solved my most recent problems. I would recommend it to anyone that feels they may be suffering from SAD, but would also say, do not start it on hi. Just start using it at a level where you feel comfortable and start with 15 minutes, so you don't overwhelm your eyes and brain like I did the first couple of times.

I recieved this yesterday and have used it for the first time today so I will have to come back later with a review on the efficacy of the light but for now...while I like some of the larger models I chose this one for its small ultra portable size and because the size also seemed like it would fit well on my desk at work without drawing too much attention. The size is just as I expected. The light is bright, when I first woke up this morning I had to start on the low setting but was able to transition up to the high setting as my eyes adjusted. It is not so bright that I cannot see, I can read etc with the light on. I agree it would be helpful if the stand in the back was adjustable, it's easy enough to prop the stand up on a cell phone, book etc to get the light at a straighter angle, but at this price point I'm thinking an adjustable stand is not too much to ask. I read that therapy lights are best used above your eye level. Since this is so small I've found using the stand as a sort of hook I can clip it onto my computer monitor, plantation shutter etc and get it at the needed height. In addition to an adjustable stand a hook or some way to clip and hang it would be much appreciated. This light is small enough that it can function on the desk or hanging up etc. I think the manufacturers should let the consumer take advantage of that, again at this price point...which comes to the price point. It is what it is I knew what I was getting and what it would cost when I made the purchase, but I do think a device this size should be more in the $40 range, almost $70 seems a little excessive given there are full size models out there for the same price. I like the timer options and the ability to change the level of light and I like that it plugs in, better than having to keep up with batteries. So far I haven't had an issue with the length of the ac adapter cord, but I do think it could be longer so like if you want to sit on the couch or something and the nearest plug isn't all that near. It also comes with a little nylon travel pouch which is nice. So overall for now I'm happy with the purchase. As to "does it work" I took a MEQ test and am using it at the recommended time for 30min and slipping in a 15 - 30 minute session in the late afternoon now that the sun is setting earlier. I'll try it out for a month an report back.***Update, I've had this light for almost a year now and it works. We just recently had a spell where it did nothing but rain, I was feeling gross without any light, used this a couple of mornings and felt instantly better. I really like the timer feature.

Background: I'd considered light therapy for a few years, and my psychiatrist recommended it. I have bipolar which is controlled well by medication, but still experience times of low energy where I tend to overeat, not go out, get fat, etc. I am naturally an athletic, outgoing person, so these times are frustrating, especially last year when I realized I couldn't participate in activities with my friends because I was too out of shape, and I was self conscious about my appearance. I was in a bad place over the holidays, very low and unhealthy, and decided to try light therapy. I guess I'd been resisting because I was afraid it wouldn't work. I chose this box because it has the 10k lux that literature says is necessary, and because it was so lightweight I could take it when I travel. The price was WAY cheaper than I expected. I began using it as soon as I got it, for 30 minutes every morning no matter what. And WOW the results have really exceeded my expectation! After three days I felt more confident, was able to handle a social situation that had seemed too daunting three days before. After five days I really felt like exercising, moved a treadmill into my apartment out of storage, and began using it for half an hour every morning. It just hasn't seemed like a big deal, whereas before it was just not imaginable (depressed people can probably relate). I put the SAD light on the treadmill while I'm working out. I put it in my peripheral vision but tend to move it from side to side during the session (have no idea if that's important. I may be keeping it too close, like 18-24". I use the timer set for 30 minutes. I use it only once per day, for 30 minutes, and I try to use it before 8 am though I have used it as late as noon with no ill effect. Another effect was my drive to overeat just left me completely. It could be the combination of the excise and the light therapy, but I'm into a very fit routine where I feel that I'm hungry and think about what would feel best to eat. I'm able to think about whether something might give me heartburn, and I'm choosing food that will help me with my workouts. It's been really easy as a result to start a diet where I'm counting calories and eating healthy, and my work pants are already loose (after 2 weeks). Bottom line: this thing has completely kicked me out of a depression, and has returned me to a state that is ideal for getting in shape and feeling good. I'm not manic, just in a really great, healthy place. I've sent one of these to my daughter and am recommending it to anyone who is suffering from depression. It is also small and lightweight and fairly sturdy (I've dropped it a few times so it dangles by the power cord, with no I'll effect so far). One review claimed it was cheap plastic, but I think it's fine for a product that is supposed to be lightweight and costs so little. The times and controls work as promised. It's true that the kick-stand only has one position, but I have no trouble moving it around to get the LEDs correctly oriented to my face. p.s. I got a power convert so I can use it in my car when traveling. I sit it on the dash.

This is a light for people with SAD, seasonal affective disorder, a condition in which insufficient sunlight, as in fall or winter in non-sunny states, causes a drop in mood and energy. This can vary in degree from mild to extremely severe. Light therapy, using a very bright light source to shine onto the sufferer's eyes, but not directly into them, for 20 - 30 minutes each morning can alleviate the condition as the exposed eyes stimulate the brain, simulating getting sufficient natural light. There are many lamps from many companies that do work and are rated at the same 10,000 lux as this one. The first lamps were big and heavy and used incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Now there are smaller units like this one that use led's. The large lights have broad light patterns, making it easy to be sure the light is striking your eyes, and they are very bright so you can sit further away and still get that 10,000 lux of light energy. The smaller led units will give the same 10,000 lux, but must be placed much closer to the eyes to deliver the rated energy, and the light field is considerably narrower, so you must be more careful in aiming it onto your eyes and repositioning it if you shift position slightly. I have had the large units on my work desk for years and can attest to the efficacy of bright light in alleviating the symptoms of SAD. A little over a year ago, I bought this unit so I could place it on my desk at home for use on my days off. I like that it is small enough to fit easily onto my desk amongst the clutter, can be easily packed up for travel, is quite bright enough at close distance, and as long as I am sure to stay within the narrower beam, it cures the SAD as well as the bigger lights. I am very happy with the light itself. So why only three stars? Here is my experience. As the light is only needed during the darker months of overcast Michigan, it is brought out in October and put away again in April, for a total useage time of 7 months per year. The unit has a 12 month warranty. Near the end of 2014 I purchased this light, used it until the spring and then boxed it up to await the next winter. It worked very well and I was very pleased to have bought it. Near the end of 2015 I removed it from its box, plugged it in, and got two days use before it failed to light. I was certainly upset that it would not light, but it had worked well the previous year and was rather inexpensive, so I ordered another one. Both units were purchased through Amazon. The new unit arrived and worked fine. Out of curiosity I tried the new unit's power cord on the old unit, and the old unit lit up and worked fine. The only problem with it had been the power supply. That is when I remembered the warranty. I did not remember how long it was, so I looked it up on Amazon and was reminded of the 12 month duration. Then I looked up my two purchases to find the dates. The time from my purchase of the first unit and the second one was 12 months and a couple of weeks, Bummer. I was just a little too late. I was just going to consider this my bad luck and let it go, but then I thought about how it had only been used for seven months and then not used for the next five, and I concluded that it should have been made better than that. I wrote by email to the company, using the address on the sticker on the light unit and explained all of this, and asked if they would be willing to stand behind their product enough to just send me a new power supply. I gave them my Amazon order numbers and the order dates. I was hopeful. No, I did not get a new power supply from them. They did not even acknowledge the contact. So my review reflects a 5 star light with a 2 star power supply and a 1 star company, at least in terms of customer service. Since then, I have purchased a replacement power supply and have two working lamps that I placed in two different areas so that I could get in my needed light time more conveniently. I do recommend the light itself. Just know that you will probably be buying replacement power supplies sooner than you might like.

I have always had major sleep problems, chalking it up to "insomnia" or "being a night owl" but only recently did I finally learn that I have Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder that periodically progresses into Non-24 Sleep Disorder (the latter of which I'm told is somewhat rare in non-blind persons). So at my best I'm up late at night and get up late the next day as a routine, but at my worst it goes through cycles of staying up a little later and later at night and sleeping even later the next day, hour by hour each night or week until I've completely circled the clock. It's a horrendous combination of sleep problems that have caused me my career and physical well-being. Once I knew what was actually happening, I was able to learn that Light Therapy might bring some help. After doing a lot of reading on the subject and comparing of models, I chose this one. I bought this light one month and two days ago, and I've kept a meticulous Sleep Log for the last month because I was extremely curious to see if this would make a difference, and if so, exactly how much of a difference. WEEK ONE/Day one of my sleep log, the day I received the unit, my bedtime (the time I fell asleep as close as I could recall) was 4:30am and I woke at 12:30pm and it had been those hours for a few weeks. It's important to note here: this would typically either stay on that schedule for weeks at a time, or it might start progressing slowly later, an hour at a time, causing my sleep and wake times to be an hour later (5:30am-1:30pm, then 6:30-2:30pm, etc - over the next few weeks). I began using this light for one hour per day almost immediately after rising and continued to log my sleep/wake times every single day; but for the sake of this review I'll summarize. By WEEK 2: my sleep time had moved to 2:30am and my wake time was 10:30am. This is a full two hours EARLIER in just a week of use. That alone is a bit of a miracle actually, and perhaps only those with a sleep disorder can understand, but it's a very big deal. I can NEVER reverse my inner clock to go to sleep earlier, it only ever goes later, so I was already thrilled. By WEEK 3: Falling asleep at 1:30am and waking at 10:30am. By the end of WEEK 4: Sleeping at 1:00am; waking at 9:30am. So: In one full month of use, 4 weeks, I moved my fall-asleep time back from 4:30am to 1:00am (3 1/2 hrs earlier) and my waking time changed from 12:30pm to 9:30am (3 hrs earlier). For me, these are astonishing results and I cannot explain how wonderfully "normal" it feels to get tired at night, go to sleep easily, and wake easily the next morning! I hope these results will last and/or continue to improve but posting the review after one month of use seemed reasonable, so only time will tell. As for the light itself: Some have complained that there's a narrow area of brightness to align with your face and this is true. Some have noted that in order to get the full 10,000LUX you need to be very close to the unit and this is also true. Everyone's different, but for me it is TOTALLY worth sitting still and fairly close to it for my session each day. The pictures of people sitting with it three feet away are not a fair representation, you need it a foot or so away to get the full benefit. Further is okay, but it will be a lesser strength. I literally stick this thing directly in front of me on my desk (abt 14" from my face) and look over it at my PC monitor as I check emails, facebook, etc. I set it on the box it came in to raise it up slightly and you may find you have to play around with it until you find your "sweet spot" where the light is at the brightest angle. You can use it for less time too, turning it on and off when you want or choosing the 45, 30 & 15 minute timers. I happened to read about blue light and how looking at screens (PC, tablets, cell phones) at night can keep you up and mess with your sleep around the same time I ordered this. So at the same time, I also started another routine. I bought a pair of orange tinted glasses that are designed to block blue light and started wearing them at 9:00pm every night, several hours before I try to sleep if I'm using the PC or watching TV. I also shut off bright lights in the house at that hour. So that has been part of my routine for this last month as well and of course it's impossible to say how much of my results were due to which thing, but I think it's a combination of both changes; adding light when I wake, and eliminating light before I sleep. The folding stand could be improved, it does fall somewhat easily if moving it around, I just make sure to keep mine in one place for my session; it's not a big deal. The buttons & timer work great, I'd lose track of time if it weren't for the auto-off feature. I can't speak from the SAD perspective other than to say that my mood has greatly improved, although it's likely because my sleep has improved. My sleep disorders have plagued me for the majority of my life, so it was important for me to gauge the results of this product carefully, and report back to others, in the hope that this could be of some benefit. Now fingers crossed that this new sleep pattern is here to stay!! *March 30 2015 Update* A brief update after a full 3 months of daily use to happily report that I am still on a normal sleeping schedule! I go to bed around the same time every night within an hour, and rise at the same time the next morning within an hour. I still use it for a full hour each morning, maybe I could get away with less but to be honest I don't dare change a thing! I've remained absolutely thrilled with my results.

I am a psychiatrist who not only recommends light therapy to many of my patients (both for seasonal mood changes and sleep disorders) but have used one off and on for the past 15 years. This "light therapy pad" is awful. I have owned/loaned/given many different lights over the years because I believe so strongly in the positive outcomes. I always instruct my patients and friends to make sure they get a light that emits 10,000 lux. any smaller and it doesn't work. Pros: It's small. It's relatively inexpensive. Cons: wow. Where do I start? The biggest issue for me is that the lights are LED (i didn't look closely enough before ordering) and you can't look directly at the light. It's extremely difficult not to look at it given that it needs to be 12-24 inches from your face in order for you to get the full effects of the light; and especially because it's so small that you have to have it practically in your face to even be "in" the light. None of the lights I've used over the years have been so harmful and seemed so LITTLE like actual sunlight. It also cannot be used to help you wake in the morning because of the functions on the light itself. For people who have difficulty waking and getting out of bed in the morning, I often recommend putting the light next to their bed on a household timer. If the timer is set to turn the light on an hour before your alarm, you wake when it turns on, sleep facing it, and are able to get out of bed MUCH more easily. I have seen success with this time and time again. Unfortunately this light is not compatable with a home/wall timer so cannot be used in this way. Those are the biggest issues and mine has been returned less than 48 hours after receiving it. I have never given a one star review to a product but can't bring myself to give it two stars. Most lights are more expensive than this, but it is well worth spending the extra money for a true light therapy lamp.

Update after 3 yrs. It's now 01/17/19: The lamp gave out permanently today. Personally I think a lifetime of 3 to 5 years is a reasonable for electronic devices. It's been a good SAD lamp. (I see that it's no longer offered on Amazon, but thought I'd leave a comment since I already tracked down this review to update it) ~~~~~~~~ Update after 2¼ year, It's now 03/13/18: Still 5 stars. In original review I said it's good for the price. Now I say it's very effective regardless of price. I definitely notice a difference when I forget to use it for a couple of days. It has survived being dropped 2 or 3 feet onto carpeted floor. Can't vouch for higher fall. I hold it up instead of standing it on a table & my only real complaint is that it's easy to accidentally reset the timer buttons when held. I imagine most people set it on a table so it wouldn't be an issue-- I just don't have a good place for it. ~~~~~~~~Original review~~ Bought 12/01/16~~~~ First an aside on warranty: If you register your lamp on the lightphorialamp.net site, the company increases the 1 yr warranty to a lifetime warranty. I included the price in considering my rating. A more expensive lamp might be made of more rugged materials or have more features, but the Lightphoria is quite good. I have a bigger fluorescent lamp bought years ago (current price $200). The Lightphoria is much brighter & more convenient. The effectiveness is the same or better. Will be getting rid of the old one. Having a timer is great. The LEDs are super bright. When some reviewers commented on the brightness, I thought they must be weenies (no offense intended, just a reaction)-- of course it would be bright. Still, I was surprised in a good way. Be sure to turn lamp away from you face when you turn it on, tho. or you'll see after-images for a while. The only things I would change: 1) The timer uses a button to set the length of the session. I'd add a digital readout to the timer to show how much time is left in the session. 2) Maybe a sturdier prop in the back. Again, given the price, there are no real deficiencies.