Well, there are a TON of these light boxes available. With prices ranging from $20 to three digit territory, I was more than skeptical. Is this thing just an excuse to sell funny light bulbs? I did some research comparing the various ones that seemed legit, and this Day-Light one came up several times. It has the right lumens, a lens to protect you from UV, looks to be sturdy, and the reviews were good. But... anyone can make a site/product look good on the web. Wanting to see the lamp in person, I went to the local medical supply place. They had the 'Classic' model instead of this lamp one, but I turned it on and knew in an instant it was a quality lamp. There is no flickering or glare of any kind, just 'warm' light. You wouldn't want to stare at it, but it's not as though you're looking at the sun. I've used it for the recommended time which is 20-30 mins, and it has certainly done something. I don't think it's changed my life or anything, but it has made me feel a bit more 'up'.
I opted for the lamp version because I wanted it on my desk, and the panel version isn't really designed for a desk. The base is heavy which makes it quite sturdy. The 'light box' part of this lamp is about 10"x13", the height is about 24" at almost full stretch (you can adjust the height and angle). When you are doing your session it says you should have this at a 15 degree angle. Then you can bend the neck down to make this an incredible task lamp. Nice white light to work with, no glare. Good for craft/detail oriented work. The brochure states that you shouldn't use this lamp after 8pm as it will wake you up too close to bedtime. After all, a big part of light therapy is to regulate your sleep cycle.
This brand is recommended by the Center of Environmental Therapeutics and they seem to be legit. They have a site if you wanna check it out.
The site, and the brochure, and anyone who knows anything will tell you that a light box isn't guaranteed to work for everyone. They also tell you - AND THIS IS IMPORTANT - light boxes are not regulated by the FDA and ARE NOT considered medical devices. This means that anyone can slap a funny light bulb in there and claim it will help you. There was some talk a while back that tanning beds were good for you because it helped you to get more sun. VERY untrue since they still expose you to UV rays which are harmful. Some of these lamps might be on the up and up, but some are definitely scams. Do your homework, ask a doctor/shrink, ask someone who uses a light box - this is a serious chunk of change to drop on a lamp.
I went into this with the view that at worst I'd get a really bright lamp. I'm not saying this is some kind of miracle worker, but I live in Maine where it's dark at 4pm in the wintertime. It's dreary and depressing, and I've always felt that way. I'm hoping this will alleviate some of the 'blahs'.
PS - In the reviews for the Classic one (more people opt for that one) there were a few people who griped that it stunk up the house. They might've missed the instructions telling you that packing stuff must be removed from INSIDE the light. There's some rubber things inside to prevent the bulbs from getting knocked loose during shipping, along with a couple rubber bands in there too. You have to remove them before you use the lamp! It comes with a little screwdriver, and you have to take off the lens(cover) to get the packing materials out of there. There were some rubber things jammed in so the bulb wouldn't wiggle around, and they were REALLY hard to get out. I had to use pliers. Gotta be careful not to break the bulb! The bulb itself is supposed to be replaced every 2 years even if it isn't burnt out. After that time they claim it will lose some of its lumens and not be as effective.
update 2011.12.18 - My light's still going strong! Definitely helpful in the morning. I just turn it on while I'm getting ready, checking my email, etc. I'm very pleased that my light is still serving me well :)
Again, I want to stress to people that you should do a little research. Someone made a comment about UV rays, suggesting that light boxes are part of pseudo-science and UV rays are helpful.
This is from the CDC (centers for disease control) web site:
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can penetrate and change skin cells.
The three types of UV rays are ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC)--
UVA is the most common kind of sunlight at the earth's surface, and reaches beyond the top layer of human skin. Scientists believe that UVA rays can damage connective tissue and increase a person's risk of skin cancer.
Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, so they are less common at the earth's surface than UVA rays. UVB rays don't reach as far into the skin as UVA rays, but they can still be damaging.
UVC rays are very dangerous, but they are absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the ground.
Too much exposure to UV rays can change skin texture, cause the skin to age prematurely, and can lead to skin cancer. UV rays also have been linked to eye conditions such as cataracts.
I'm gonna take the CDC's word on the harmfulness of ALL UV rays. Lack of sun exposure does lead to Vitamin D deficiency, but you can take a daily vitamin to get it that way.
update 2012.05.16 - Replacement bulbs! Not as easy as you'd think. In the manual for the light, it says that the bulbs are '2 x 55 watt compact flourescent, 4000 kelvin'. If you do a search for Uplift Technologies Day-Light Sky replacement bulb, you will get a couple of options. There is a 3 pack, which seems to be a good idea HOWEVER, the 3 pack bulbs are 36 watts, not 55. The single replacement bulb IS 55 watts. If you use the lower wattage, I don't think the light will be as effective, so I'm gonna get 2 of the single ones (the light has 2 bulbs inside).
Update 2013.03.04 - Light bulb confusion solved!
A representative from Carex/Uplift Technologies contacted me within 24 hours (awesome customer service!) with a response about which bulbs to use with the Day-Light sky and how they work:
This is the correct bulb for the Day-Light Sky, DLA2000BLB.
There is a difference between "Kelvin" and "Lumens or Lux". Kelvin Color Temperature has more to do with the color of the light, whether it be warm (yellowish) or cool (blue). The Day-Light is 4,000 K which is almost in the middle of the spectrum, more towards warm.
The light emitted from the Day-Light is measured in Lux, this is a measurement of the intensity of the light coming from the lamp. 10,000 lux is recommended, you will achieve this with the Day-Light Sky if you are approx 12 inches from the light at the right angle. The farther you move away from the lamp, the lower the lux. Also, if you use it on the lower setting, the intensity will diminish to 6,500 lux which is still therapeutic, you would just need to use the lamp longer than the recommended 20-30 minutes.
Update 2014.01.22 - Rubber band confusion solved!
In the comments, a wise man :D pointed out that there is nothing in the instructions telling you that you MUST remove the rubber bands/packing materials before first use. It also tells you that there will be a smell for the first few hours of use. This makes sense for anything plastic. The funny smell is called 'offgassing'.
I removed the bands/packing materials because I figured that the smell people had complained about came from that. Makes sense, they are rubber and rubber can be stinky. I emailed the trusty Carex/Uplift technology people for an answer on Sat. I got my answer on Tues because it was a holiday - this proves to me that their excellent customer service is not a fluke, they are a genuinely caring and attentive company.
The email info:
The rubber bands and black inserts are only there to secure the bulbs during shipment. Both can be left in until the bulbs need to be replaced, as the black inserts will not have much heat applied to them. As for the rubber bands, they will dry out and often simply fall off after a couple of hours of use. They may emit some odor during the first hour or two of use, but this is negligible for most people and it soon dissipates.
If someone is highly sensitive or concerned about any odor, they could remove the rubber bands before use. However, even if the rubber bands and black inserts are removed, like most new electrical appliances, there may still be an odor for the first hour or two of use.
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Boost Your Mood, Improve Your Energy, Maintain Your Wellness
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Don't Get Left In The Dark!
Boost your energy, improve your sleep, and maintain your wellness with a Bright Light Therapy Lamp, an all natural and doctor recommended solution.
Bright Light Therapy is a doctor recommended and science backed method of mimicking sunlight to boost your exposure to light, resetting your circadian rhythm – a major factor that tells your body when to sleep and when to wake.
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This Item  Carex Day-Light Sky Bright Light Therapy Lamp - 10,000 LUX - Sun Lamp To Combat Winter Blues and To Increase Your Energy |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $111.99 | -7% $69.95 Typical: $74.95 | -20% $79.99 List: $99.99 | -26% $95.79 List: $129.99 | -13% $129.99 List: $149.99 | $19.99 |
| Price Per Unit | $111.99 / Count | — | — | $95.79 / Count | — | $19.99 / Count |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jul 29 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Brightness | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Sturdiness | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | MSC Distribution | Pure Enrichment Direct | Amazon.com | Pure Enrichment Direct | 1Health |
| style | Sky | — | Modern | Contemporary | Modern | Contemporary |
| light source type | LED | LED | LED | LED | LED | LED |
| power source | Corded Electric | Battery Powered | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | — |
| light sources | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| base material | Polycarbonate | Magnetic | — | Polycarbonate | — | — |
| switch type | Touch | Push Button | Push Button | — | Touch | Touch |
| installation | Freestanding | Tabletop | Tabletop | — | Freestanding | — |
| lamp type | Daylight Lamp | Table Lamp | Desk Lamp | Therapy Lamp | Floor Lamp | Light Therapy Lamp |
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Go towards the light! TOWARD THE LIGHT!
Date Purchased: 12/1/2015Date Received: 12/4/2015In-Use Date: 12/6/2015Review Type: Standard Amazon PriceThe Need-------------For years I've had pretty bad cases of what was sometimes called "winter blues" but is now recognized to be Seasonal Affect Disorder. It started (or was noticed) when I was a fairly young kid and continues to this day. I've tried many things over the years but recently I had a distant relative come to visit and it turns out she also has dealt with this. She told me that she had been using light therapy for the last 2 years and that it had made a tremendous impact in her mood and energy levels. I've looked in to light therapy many times before but whenever I went looking for a light it always seemed like it was every quack and con-man offering one and never anything that resembled respected medical and scientific information.This time, after talking with her and now feeling that at least in theory the therapy was valid, I was determined to understand more about these lights and what was really behind them. Perhaps this time was also different because I had been dealing with coral and plant grow lights for a couple of years so now had a decent grasp on LUX, color ranges, wavelengths, etc. Whatever the reason, with this knowledge in hand this time it was clearer that when a lamp manufacturer or company was promoting their product with anything under 10k LUX and without specific testing of output, color temp and UV blocking as "light therapy" they were basically preying upon a mostly uninformed marketplace. Products that cost $50-$100 are simply not equivalent to professionally researched, built and tested products no matter how they try to market themselves.The Research-------------------After a good deal of research I decided upon the Carex Day-Light Sky unit. I preferred the non-clinical look of it compared to some of the other Carex models and other brands. As I intended to use this in my home office area, I liked being able to use it for a task-light when not being used for light therapy purposes. It was well reviewed by consumers and was noted in reliable research. It wasn't until I received the box that I became aware that the unit is built like a tank. As per some of the questions asked about the product, anyone thinking of suspending this light above their heads better have a good idea of what they are doing in mounting it due to the potential damage to your wall, light...and skull.I read through the manual and all online information I could find in order to get valid information about the use of the product. Contrary to a lot of the information suggested in the questions above and online in general the unit is intended be used 1) approximately 1 ft from your face 2) the light should be directly in front of you, not off to the side and 3) the light should be shining down from slightly above your eyes. The receptors that are most impacted by this light are along the lower portion of your eye socket so light that is entering your eye from or below horizontal will be less beneficial than if the light is used as the manufacturer suggests. This is why the unit is built as it is, with the light emitting from the panel sitting above your eye height and down at a slight angle towards you.The research behind light therapy shows that the intensity of the light is what has proven to be effective as light therapy, which is why the 10k LUX is so important. If you are receiving light that is less intense it simply does not have the same effect on your body. It should also be noted that light intensity follows the inverse square law. This means that when the the manufacturer suggests that you sit 1 ft from light, thinking that you can sit 2 ft away and still receive half the intensity is incorrect; at 2 ft away you are receiving 25% of the original light intensity. And that again takes you to a level of intensity that is unlikely to have much, if any, of the desired effect for S.A.D.The Effect--------------I started with 20 minutes per day for about the first week just to make sure there were no ill side-effects, especially with the wide variety of medications I am prescribed. As I did not notice anything of issue, I went up to 30 minutes. By this point I believed I was feeling some of the effects but couldn't be sure due to the mood issues from S.A.D. and/or a placebo effect. However by the end of the second week there was absolutely no doubt that the therapy was working. I undertook this therapy in December, usually one of the worst times of year for my condition, and for the first time in a number of years I actually managed to keep some momentum through December and in to this year. It's been about a decade since the last time that happened.In order to make sure that this was not due to something other than the light or that this would be a short-term effect I have waited to write a review. As we entered spring and the time change, I tapered off of the light usage as I was able to get more natural light. Now, 8 months from when I started using it, I can firmly state that this therapy not only helped me through winter but that due to my other health issues there are times I am unable to spend significant time in sunlight and a couple of doses from this light are enough to make a difference. I expect to resume more regular use of the light again as we head in to late fall and the time changes, providing less natural light exposure each day.Lastly, I mentioned that the product is built like a tank. This is a very well built product. No skimping on "lightweight" parts either in the physical build or as far as I can tell in the electronics that control the lighting. I see zero flicker. The lights come on and turn off instantly. There is no sound and only a little heat produced by the light. The arm and adjustments that hold the light have virtually zero play in them. I wish more products were built like this one.I give this product a hearty 5 five stars! I hope it can help you as much as it has helped me.Since I purchase most items on on-line. I rely heavily on the feedback of other people when making my own choices. Therefore I view leaving straightforward and useful reviews as a RESPONSIBILITY and take it quite seriously. I am NOT paid to give reviews, nor do I have ANY relationship with any seller. These are my own opinions, based on my own experiences and my own or a member of my household's use of this product. I hope you find this review helpful. If you agree, please click the YES below so that I know I have helped you. If I left out any information you could use for your own purchase decision please leave a comment and I will respond as quickly as possible. Thank you.
