Lightphoria 10,000 lux SAD Light Therapy Pad (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Sunlight Simulator. 2011 model (v2.1)

I'm 35 now and I've been using this light box faithful for about 3 weeks now. I've heard people say this was a spoof but my therapist say it'll take up to several weeks before the effects kick in. I religiously continued to use it and I can say that this really works. It doesn't bring major changes to your emotions or mood, but you can feel more awake during the day. It's as if you were long term in a picnic under the sunshine. I will be using this every winter now when my energy levels and mood deteriorate worst. I'm in the courier industry and you really gotta be awake when at work or you get into a mess with deliveries. I've recommended this to my night shift buddies. This lightphoria is pretty good for its price but there are higher end models with more features. But as recommended by my therapist, make sure you get a 10,000 lux sad light or you'll see no effect.

I got this after reading the reviews and all I can say it really does work!

I use it twice a day, once in the morning and once after lunch and it really helps tell my body to wake up. It sets my circadian rhythm back to normal despite being an air hostess. After every long haul flight, I still wake up at 8am in the morning latest, thanks to light therapy. Before, I don't feel tired even when it's past midnight but now it isn't a problem when my body naturally wakes up so early.

I'm not sure about seasonal affective disorder but it's worth getting if you work in day/night shifts.


Pros:
- it works well for resetting my body clock
- the light is very bright
- doesn't have weird smells which is a common problem mentioned on some reviews for other products
- it's small enough to carry for my trips
- the adapter works on voltages for all countries

Cons:
- the timer only allows 15, 30 and 45 minutes intervals

Get one if you have problems with controlling your body clock.

Saw this on an ad from a magazine and this is the best therapy lamp in its price range. Most of the other therapy lamps are very expensive and are out of my budget. Firstly, I do not suffer from SAD nor do I have sleeping problems. I just want to feel more energetic during the short daylight winter days. This is what everyone needs when living in the northern latitudes of the US. I've used the lightphoria for 3 weeks now and it has brought positive impact on my mood. 3 week isn't long enough to speak for its reliability but I can tell you how the device functions.

The lightphoria is a solidly constructed piece and attractive to be placed anywhere at home. It doesn't have any fancy digital displays or flashy buttons. All it has are 7 basic functions which pretty much explains why it is half the price of the expensive models. I would much prefer to cut out the fancy i-phone-like buttons on home appliance like this to keep the price affordable. Operating is very self explanatory with timer settings and intensity settings for you to choose. It comes with a back stand which is pretty standard for most therapy lamps. It comes with a travel pouch too which may come in handy for those who travel through time zone and need some extra light to acclimatize to your destination.

I'm a newbie so I use it only 30 minutes a day during my slow mornings. When in use, the light isn't bothersome on the side of my peripheral vision even when on HI setting - though the first couple of days was not as comfortable as I thought. Your eyes get used to it and immediately it takes effect on your body. It works pretty much like the way the sunlight sheds your room in the morning and forces you to wake up. The body registers this as a 'wake up call' and naturally your hormones do the work.

The only negative I can criticize about the lightphoria the stand tilts the panel only in one specific angle. It does not have an adjustable stand so you can place it higher or lower whilst maintaining the light angle directly to your face. The stand is designed only to be placed on a regular desk level.

Still, a great product at a great price.

I was using a much larger SAD light that has great reviews here on Amazon and is at least 3 times the price. It worked really well in the months I used it so I was pretty sold on SAD lights by the time I ordered this little guy. The problem with the larger light is that it's not easy to move around so I leave it at my computer table so that I can have a pick me up if I'm dozing off at the computer, but I don't always use the computer in the mornings. In fact lately I've been using it less and less for work, so I got this little one that is easy to tranport into any room I want to use it in. I say that this little guy works just as well as the big light I have at 1/3rd of the price. The only drawback is that it's not battery operated, but that's not very important to me. You could maybe get yourself around that by attaching some sort of battery pack to it- not sure. There are a couple of portable SAD lights that use batteries like the Lumie Zip- but that costs $200 and you can't adjust the strength of the light nor does it have a light timer like this one. So I think the power cord is a miniscule caveat that won't disuade most people from this great purchase.

I bought this a couple of weeks already and been using it every day. I've shopped around for a SAD light for a while and most were $100+. Despite the fact I am unsure if I really do have the S.A.D. sickness, I still bought one to try out. I am overall very pleased with this unit and the therapy has worked for me. You don't really feel the difference until the first week, so I nearly gave up on the 5th day. I've been setting the unit for 30minutes everyday on the LOW output which claims to be 5000lux. I find LOW or MEDIUM setting bright enough already. I chose not to go with the blue light version because I've read from articles that blue light doesn't work as well (since the natural sunlight is wide spectrum, and the whole point is to emulate sunlight).

Shipping took a while, customer service was average, and I'm very happy with the product itself. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for double this price for a something quite simple.

I was recommended to light therapy 10 years ago by my doctor but I never got one. I've been on anti-depressant medications every winter because I thought it was the only solution to my winter mood swings. Finally got this for this season when I found out that I didn't have to pay hundreds of dollars for a sad light. I wish I bought it years ago knowing that I've done so much damage to my liver from the medications. This product is amazing itself, and even better with the low price tag. I've recommended this to my friend who suffers from night shift jetlag.

It's great to keep energy up when facing a computer all day. I got this to replace my old philips lightbox that I got from cosco many years ago. The light flickered so I knew it's not doing any good to my eyes. This light is slightly brighter when set on HI and I like the fact that it doesn't take alot of time to set the timer, set the intensity etc. It's a simple set of analog buttons that doesn't have any computer systems that you have to press and hold, or press things simultaneously to get functions working.

The product comes at a reasonable price and is worth the money. Good deal, highly recommended.

I ordered this as recommended by my doctor. It arrived in 2 days with regular shipping. Once I got it out the box I could see it was built of good quality: it felt solid and sturdy. I've used it for 45 minutes every morning for a 5 days and already I am waking and sleeping on a regular schedule. I don't have the wake up lag anymore - the drowsy feeling that lasts nearly for an hour after you wake up. I feel much more awake during the day while at work.

The light is very strong and I could not bear the HI intensity for more than 30 minutes. As recommended by the product, do not stare into the light which I've done several times accidentally.

The Lightphoria has worked very well for me so far and I recommend this to anyone who needs a SAD light for physiological purposes.

The light arrived quickly in good condition from Amazon. It's a very nice light, it looks clean, well-made and looks very simple to use. I placed it next to my computer monitor and it's unobtrusive to my desk.

I think this was the best SAD light for the price and the quality of the product. Some on ebay can get as cheap as 12 dollar but do you really think they can be used therapeutically?!

I can not say it has alleviate any symptoms of SAD, but it has definitely helped me regulate my body clock. I sleep quite late sometimes (1-2am) just caught up youtube clips and email, or just messing around on my computer, and I end up lacking quality sleep. Even when I sleep, I wake up every hour. I end up very tired during the day time. This lightbox helps my body wake up during the day and sets the tone for the morning. It feels like eating a big breakfast in the morning - you feel full of energy and you're ready for the day. You just simply follow the 30 minute a day program and you'll see the effects in a matter of days. Good luck.

I have used light therapy for many years now to alleviate my SAD symptoms. I usually go to my clinic for light therapy sesssions but now owning one of these at home makes it so much more convenient. I bought this device for a trip to Canada but realize this can replace my usual therapy sessions at the clinic. The unit worked perfectly from the day 1. Since then, I've recommended this to several friends and family members and they all had similar experienced as I had.

Highly recommended for S.A.D. patients.

On the advice of a medical doctor, years ago I got my wife a full spectrum flourescent SAD light (not the one being reviewed here). The one I found back then is a very industrial unit, not designed to be very stable. It's about 2.5 feet tall with a base about 3 inches square. My wife kept it on the side table next to where she watches TV. It worked fine, but our young kids would push it over, and the expensive bulbs would break. After the 3rd broken bulb, I decided we would spend less money in the long run if I found a better designed unit.

I liked the price of this one, and that the led bulbs wouldn't break. Also the small size would allow her to more easily move it around.

It worked fine for her, and I tried it myself to see if it would make me more alert in the mornings. It worked great for that, but I don't watch TV in the morning, so I use it while working. I found that the led light is very directional, so I constantly have to monitor where my head is in relation to the light direction. The angle of brightest light is very narrow, only about 5 degrees or so.

Also, the stand only allows a few degrees of vertical angle adjustment. It doesn't seem really designed to allow any vertical adjustment at all; it's just that if you partially close it, the angle is slightly different.

We still had an extra bulb for the old one, so I decided to try it myself where I work. When not in use I put it away where our kids can't knock it over. It has a much wider angle of brightest light than this led unit. It has no vertical adjustment at all, but it's angle is so wide it doesn't need one.

So if you're going to use it while sitting quite still as when watching TV or reading, this unit is fine. But if you're going to be moving around a bit as when working, you might want to look at a flourescent model instead.

BTW the timer is a nice touch but in my opinion not really necessary. I would much rather have had more vertical adjustment.


Advantages of this unit:
-- great price
-- very compact
-- led lights won't break or burn out

Disadvantages of this unit:
-- very directional light; fine if you keep still, not so much if you're moving your head around as when working, in which case you might want to look at a flourescent model instead.
-- very little vertical adjustment.


I'd like to see a led unit with more lights which are mounted at different angles, so the total light is not as directional. That would combine the small size and unbreakable bulbs of the led units, with the less directional light of the flourescent units. Or, come to think of it, maybe some kind of light diffuser mounted in front of the leds could accomplish the same thing.

This is wonderful device. It arrived at my doorsteps by Amazon in perfect condition and took less than 2 minutes to set up. I was recommended by my medical practitioner to a light therapy device atleast 10,000lux and I found this online. She said anything less bright will not combat SAD. Nonetheless I've been using at MED-intensity which is 8000lux only and its been working effectively - I've been using it only for 2 weeks and I already feel a change in my mood and energy. This product brings me real brightness during those gloomy dark winter days. I will need a few more weeks to see if it has any effect on my depression but I am optimistic.

First, this light is super-zany bright. It's blink your eyes bright, but not all weepy like House Speaker John Boehner bright. But, it throws no heat. It's odd. Even the chassis doesn't get hot. Not like my halogen lamp which almost set the sprinklers off when it charred my pastrami sandwich wrapper. This Lightphoria by Sphere Gadget Technologies is cool as a summer cucumber.

If you click on the company, Sphere Gadget Technologies on the Amazon listing for this light, they make only this freaking light! Shouldn't it be Sphere Gadget Technology, then? This is, strangely enough, version 2.1 I had diet Dr. Pepper come out of my nose when I noticed that. I'm sure there's been significant upgrades since version 2.0. Many of you are thinking now, "Maybe I should wait for version 3.0? Maybe it'll be thinner. Or have 10,500 lumens or something." I wish I could answer that for you, but those buggers at Sphere are one tight-lipped group.

Okay, but how's it work, you ask? I first used this light near my face at work for about two hours every morning for over a month straight as a test. It could be placebo effect, I have no idea, but I feel more alive all day at work. Not stand on my desk and beat my chest like Tarzan alive, but pretty close.

I'd think that, if it was only placebo, it would have worn off after a couple weeks. And I'm not that gullible for placebos and such. Sure, sometimes I'm down to my last nerve, and everyone in the office is plucking it. But, I'm no patsy.

The used car salesman who sold me the PT Cruiser with oatmeal in the transmission said it best when I pushed it back into his lot: "You, buddy, are just too cunning." God, that's rich. Trust me, he was as nervous as a hog at a luau when I bought my next car from him. I have that effect on people, I really do.

You're going to catch some major flack when you first place this 6 inch by 6 inch meteor on your desk, let me tell you. I thank the Lord that the unique novelty of the light has worn off and my co-workers no longer look at me like I've got a blood-sucking tarantula in the middle of my forehead. They've stopped saying, "Hey, Jersey Shore, you're tanning only one side of your face." Or, "Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up." Or, "Mind if I reheat my coffee next to your 'gloomy lamp'?" Or, "Okay, okay. I confess. I'm the one that stole your mojo. Now turn it off, I beg you." Honestly, could I make this stuff up? A real witty bunch of intellectuals, they are.

Why the stars deduction? This is a cheaply built light. It's lightweight, but made of thin plastic. It feels like one drop on the floor and this thing will smash to pieces. The cord has a transformer on the wall end that takes too much space, and it attaches via a jack plug to the light that looks flimsy as heck. Hit the jack, break the light. This light feels like something you could win at the water-gun horsie race booth at the county fair, right next to the lead paint cupie dolls and the stuffed bear that smells like formaldehyde and has one eye dangling on a loose thread.

So, when you get the light, do an experiment: ask your friends and co-workers, how much do you think this light costs? The answer will be around $20. Sure, you could argue 10k lumens takes some LED bulbs and what not. But when I can get a full floor lamp with bright natural light for 1/2 this price, this little thing is pricey. Frankly, the only reason I didn't buy the cheaper floor lamp is that my co-workers would probably call the asylum if I sat at my desk for two hours each morning staring at a floor lamp only 8 inches from my kisser.

In addition, the different intensity settings on this Lightphoria are useless. Low, medium or high, the brightness changes little. I use it on the brightest setting, regardless of how bummed out I am on a particular day.

Will I use it? Let's just say that sometimes my attitude stinks stronger than a startled skunk hit by a dirt clod. I'll admit it.

So, yep, the light seems to make me feel better about myself. And when I feel better about myself, I treat those around me like human beings. So, yes, it helps. Will it break? Probably. Is it worth the price to feel like a six year old on a long summer day? If it keeps working, sure.

I feel light as a feather now, you know, getting all this heavy stuff off my mind. I might even take a morning off from using the old strobe in the face. On second thought, I'd better at least give myself a 30 minute "booster" to ignite that twinkle in my eye. And I know what you're thinking, and no, I'm not addicted to light box therapy. Sheesh. Get a grip, will you.

UPDATE!!!: Dec 21. Okay, I've had it now for several months. I have not budged it from the corner of my desk for fear that I will break it. I have not smashed it yet. I even tuck the cord under the corner of my desk with Scotch tape to prevent one of my unhappy colleagues from stumbling on the cord and yanking my $60 light off my desk and smashing it and then saying, "Hey, I'm sorry. I'll replace it -- here's twenty bucks. Keep the change and buy yourself a cup of coffee."

The big question, do I still use it? Answer is: yes. The lights are still bright, no burned out LED bulbs, and still strong beams in my face every morning at my desk for 90 minutes. If I've got a big meeting or something, I might stare at it for an additional 30 minutes, but by then my eyeballs feel like two Fig Newtons, so I stop.

I really appreciate the timer feature for 15, 30 or 45 minutes. Without it, I might get distracted and leave the thing on all night and the janitor would think some blind lunatic sits at my desk.

I don't know if it's the lamp or the one lb. bag of peanut M&M's in my desk drawer, but something gives me a smile. Something is preventing me from meandering down to the company boiler room, throwing my necktie over a waterpipe and kicking a desk chair out from under myself. So, I guess, all in all, I'm happy I bought this light.

A cute girl in the corner cubicle just got this same light. She never asked me about it--it just appeared on her desk one morning. She's cute as hell, with curly red hair and an ice cream scoop dimple in the middle of her chin.

But, her eyes look like two burnt holes in a blanket. No wonder someone gave her this "pep" light. And, just so you know, even with light box therapy, she still avoids me like fresh paint on a park bench.

I do not have clinical depression or SAD, so if someone has those diagnoses, ask your head shrink about using this light. I, honestly, have no idea if this light, plus a fistful of prescription pills, will be enough to ward off depression. I know that wolfbane inhibits werewolves, and that spinach makes Popeye strong as a kicking mule. But, I haven't the foggiest notion how this light will affect you. I'd help you if I could, though. I really would.

My review is for us folks who get the blues from dank office conditions while schlepping the old "ball and chain" for "the Man" to earn a measly paycheck that's barely enough to buy a hot pizza pie, a six pack of liquid "therapy", and this Lightphoria lamp. Then, we sit like brainless twits in the stinging glare of this light to burn on a "game face", and do it all again the following week.

Cheers to you all! Don't be all bummed out, like me. In the summer, stare at the sun until you're weeping like a newborn. In the winter, eyeball this flimsy light until you see rows of LEDs on the backs of your lids in your dreams. Your wallet will be lighter, but your day will be brighter.

Please click if this review helped you or made you smile--and sunny day to you, my fellow Amazon light box shoppers. Comments welcome.

This is a very bright lamp! It definitely looks like more than 10,000 lux but I have yet to assess its effect on my SAD. I live in Iowa and there is barely sunlight during the winter. It's much better now in summer but my condo doesn't get much natural sunlight so I use this as my body's sunlight simulator.
I've used it for 2 days so far and I can see why people enjoy using these SAD lights so much. It's comfortable and sort of 'tricks' your body into being awake.
Worth the money when you consider the benefits it brings to your body.

I looked up on this type of product for a long time but I couldn't give myself a valid reason for spending the money. It looks weird, gimmicky, and cumbersome. My husband forced me to get one, thanks to my moodiness, so I chose this lightphoria sad light which was reasonably priced amongst the choices. I must say this product is a great value, it's small enough for bring around the house, looks good, and noiseless. It's quite self explanatory on how to use it with reference to the instructions on the duration you require per day. It doesn't have any complicated settings - you just press ON and select how long you want it to stay on. It claims to mimic natural sunlight but I find it slightly tinted with blue. Whatever the light is, it worked for the Wisconsin winter and I'm glad to get my own sunlight exposure everyday!

I love this lamp! I had a larger bulky SAD lamp and wanted something portable and smaller. I bought a blue light lamp and immediately felt exhausted and sleepy at 4:00 again. ( I later read that blue light does NOT work as well.) I then bought this lamp and felt a difference within the first 2 days. I have to use it on the high setting for 1/2 hr every day while I check my e-mails and than I can feel like a normal person during the winter again! It is small, portable, bright and easy to use. I can even set it on the bed next to me while I read, perfect!

Good solid product. I've been using it on HIGH 45 minutes, 18 inches away from face each morning for 3 weeks already. Seems to have alleviated my SAD symptoms and revived my mood. What I liked most was the pricing of this, it wasn't ridiculously expensive like the other ones which I feel are rip-offs. Would recommend this to others with depression.

I bought one of these Lightphoria SAD lights for my dad who is 59 already. We live in Michigan and every winter, my dad always looks for an opportunity to get to Florida for some sunlight. So I thought this SAD light was a good therapy for him during the winter.

We were both was skeptical at first, especially the color of the light did not look like the color of natural sunlight. He used it for several days and he said noticed a difference on his energy level. He loves the product now and used it everyday during the whole winter.

Every winter, I get horrendous mood swings. The dark afternoons are unwelcoming and days are short. It really affects everyones mood. I was recommended by friends to use SAD light therapy for years but never got down to it. Last month I finally did it. It was a luxurious thing to buy in this kind of economy but I would say it is well worth it if you are like me - my mood is so easily affected by the environment. A couple of days using this product I felt the effects of the light therapy. I think it makes your body believe you are in sunlight (like in the summer time). I feel more renewed and less tired during the day. I recommend this SAD light to everyone out there who find themselves hating the winter especially if you live in Washington.

I purchased this unit because I wanted a portable light therapy unit that used white light instead of blue light.

Most portable LED light therapy devices use only blue light, which some research has apparently shown to be a danger to the long term health of the eye. While most light therapy devices that use white light are huge bulky, fragile units that are difficult to move from place to place.

To my knowledge this Lightphoria product is the only light therapy device that combines portability with safe white light.

Pros:
-Much cheaper than competing devices
-No difference in efficacy
-Portable
-Uses white light (supposedly safer than blue light)

Cons
-Limited effective range
-No battery

I was a bit skeptical at first because of the price. This product is priced at around a 50% discount to its closest competition which to me always leads to concern about quality.

But after about a week of use, I can report that I have no major complaints with regards to quality. The light appears to be as bright as advertised, and it is working as well as a much more expensive product I have used in the past.

There are negatives however to using such a small device. With a big lightbox the light scatters in all directions meaning as long as you're sitting within range the box will work. With these smaller units you have to be sure to keep your face within a rather narrow range so as to catch the light at its proper angle.

It is somewhat of a problem, especially if you're like me and you like to keep busy with work during light sessions. But in my mind this drawback is inevitable and worth the device's portability and price.

The other drawback versus other portable light devices is the lack of a battery. This doesn't bother me at all as I always use light therapy when at my computer in range of a socket anyway.

This Sphere S.A.D. light is compact and small enough to bring around my trips. It works on both 120V and 220v so going to a foreign country is no problem.
It comes at a very reasonable price and it questions me why you need to spend hundreds of dollars to get an expensive one. I do 30 minutes per day and the light is pleasant. It feels like a quality product in your hands.

I'm glad I got this.

I bought this last month as a gift for my mom and in hindsight it was a good buy. We placed the unit on the coffee table next to the couch. She uses it every morning when she reads the papers and she claims that it helps. She goes on a mood swing frenzy every winter. I hope it isn't a placebo and even it was, it works and thats all that matters. The light is very bright on the highest setting and its made of LED bulbs so I'm hoping it will last forever. A good gift for anyone who suffers from depression.

Got this item from Amazon in a timely fashion. Opened the box, it looked just as expected and works as advertised. I enjoy using this light!

I've owned this light box for nearly a month and I love it. It's not the cheapest, but has a good balance on positive feedback & price amongst the 10,000 lux SAD lights I could find. I use it 45 minutes every morning and it has worked well for me. I was tired during work and become sleeping around 8pm after dinner. I knew this wasn't normal so I shopped for a SAD light. After using this light therapy I've been able to stay up longer at night and seem be more alert during the evenings. I didn't find it having much effect on the tiredness getting out of bed (some people say they get out of bed much easier). I started off straight to the 10,000 lux on HI instead of slowing steeping up from 5,000lux to 8000 etc. and had no problems. Just don't stare into the light and you'll be fine!

The light is small, lightweight, has multiple times and intensity to be exposed to the light. There is a back stand to set it on a counter but I placed a rubber band on the stand and hang it from the knob on the medicine chest to bring it to the height needed while I am getting ready in the morning. it's great and I feel that it is very effective. Works for me!!!!!

I saw this on TV and it got me very curious about this technology. It sounds funny when shining light into your eyes changes your mood and energy level! All I must say after owning this for 2 months, it makes a difference in my energy and those long afternoons where my body feels very tired is gone.

The technology no doubt works. It's a healthy alternative to caffeine if you want to stay awake.

Lightphoria is a great product for its price. It's very bright but in a pleasing way, as long as you don't stare directly into the light for more than a couple of seconds. You are suppose to put it at an angle while you do your reading, watching TV or working on the computer. The settings are intuitively simple - exactly what you would need without the fancy stuff that other SAD light offers. It's very sturdy and I'm satisfied with the purchase. I haven't used it long enough to see how it affects my circadian cycles or alleviating depression but I've seen improvement in my energy levels in early mornings when I feel like falling back to sleep.

The only flaw is that the power cable of this SAD light is only 4-5 feet long so I had to fit a power cable to put it on my computer table which cost me an extra $15 bucks!

Whew! There are a lot of lights on the market claiming to treat SAD. Are the extremely pricey ones worth it? I wasn't sure, so I decided to go with this model, which was on sale for 1/2 price and seemed much more compact than its higher-priced competitors. Also, my doctor said that research suggests light therapy is only effective for SAD if the light is 10,000 lux. Many of the lights didn't indicate how bright they were, which led me to believe they weren't delivering a therapeutic brightness. (Blue-spectrum lights don't need to be 10,000 lux, but I also read that they can cause macular degeneration - eye damage - in some people.) I've now been using this light for 3 weeks, as my doctor also recommended starting in August, just as days begin to shorten. The light is compact enough to fit easily on my bathroom counter, and I turn it on the highest setting (medium is 8,000 lux, low is 6,000) and set the built-in timer for 30 minutes while I get ready for work. One caveat: you need to stand just 12-24 inches away from the light for it to deliver 10,000 lux.

Keep in mind before buying that the light is VERY bright. It creates an afterimage if you look at it. I admit I'm a little concerned that it is damaging my eyes. Wouldn't exactly be mood-boosting to lose my eyesight. But this may be a universal issue with light therapy products, and may not be specific to this one.

This is a great device for someone who travels and wants to bring along something for SAD, however it is not my favorite. Because of its size, it seems to emit less light than the other option that I purchased for my office.

All in all, I am pleased with the Light Therapy pad.

I bought this last month and used it on a daily basis up until now. It made a huge difference to my energy level and emotions. I do not suffer SAD but my husband suspects me of having a mild form of depression. I find this light a good substitute for the lack of sunshine.

I've seen a documentary on TV about these SAD lights. When buying these products, there's either wide spectrum light or blue light to choose from. Some say blue light isn't good for your eyes. This product claims to emit wide spectrum lighting but from what I see, the light is blueish. What ever the light is, as long as it works I don't really care what part of the spectrum it emits.

I highly recommend this light for anyone who suspects themselves or their loved ones with depression.

The SAD light is a great product. It is bright but I guess that's the point and it's bright in a good way as long as you are not staring directly into the light because then it will hurt your eyes. After using it for several sessions, I find that it almost changes the air around me and helps with my breathing and it lifts up my mood a bit. Note that this was only after a few sessions, you need to be consistent with this and not give up after the first go like I almost did. Overall I am satisfied as it is a sturdy, light weight product that I can put next to my bed or on my desk when I am working. My sleeping patterns have been improved and mood has been uplifted, I wake up feeling fresh after using the SAD product and am hopeful that the effects will not wear out after I have become more immune to it.

My wife has suffered from SAD for many years. I got this SAD light to help her beat the gloomy Oregon winters. From what I've seen, it's been effective against her illness. She's been alot more energetic and much less emotional. Before she used to get upset on the most trivial matters. I knew she was sick but just didn't know what was it. Anyway, her mood is back to normal now and I'm starting to use it too to see if it helps with my energy levels.
This is a basic entry model and there's no intricate displays or glowing buttons. Doesn't look the best but does the job well.
Good product and highly recommended for those with SAD.

The item is great for SAD. Results took about a week to be noticed. The only bad thing I can say is that three of the led lights were not working. Other than that, nice investment.

This is definitely worth the money!
Shopped around a SAD light and this looks like the best one for its price - and it is!

I use it on the morning everyday while I eat breakfast. I use the 30 minutes setting and it sufficient to keep me energetic the whole day.

HOWEVER I wished that it had a built-in rechargeable battery so I can use it without the adapter attached. The only one that offers this is the philips golite BLU but it is more than twice as expensive... but how expensive could the rechargeable batteries be?!

Other than that, a great product that is well worth the money if you want to get your energy back!

This little light is very easy to use. The one thing I do not like about it is the flip stand on the back. It operates much like a picture frame for your desk. The flip stand is very flimsy and doesn't hold the light up in place. You need to prop something behind the light to keep it standing properly. I bought this light as it is one of the more inexpensive ones for SAAD. I didn't know if I have SAAD, but I moved to a part of the country where we have long sunless days for months at a time. I was starting to feel down, no energy, and generally unhappy. I'm not this way normally. So I bought this light after reading that for a light to work it needs to be 10,000 LUX and the full spectrum light is better then the blue light. I've been using it for about a week, 30 minutes in the morning while having coffee. I have to say, I am in a better mood after this 30 minute exposure. So I am inclined to say that it working.

I used this thing over this winter and I am feeling better that previous years. I'm not really depressed or suffering from any mood conditions but this light box made me feel more energetic somehow. It can also be used as a room light. I use it during the day in the mornings and especially on rainy days.
Be warned - the lights are very bright!

I feel much more awake during the daytime now. I can get out of bed without feeling like it's the worst part of my day. I think this device has tricked my body into thinking it is summer again. My winter depression has improved substantially. This could have been a perfect if it had a digital timer indicating the elapse time.

This product is best for value. It is light-weight, extremely portable and can be placed on anywhere you have a table. I personally set it at 16-20 inches away from my face which I find the best distance to get enough light exposure without affecting my vision. My medical condition is slightly more complicated than the normal S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) but my doctor still recommended me towards this direction.
The product helps me adjust to the sleep/wake cycle of my body clock, alleviates depression (to a certain extent), improves alertness and helps me stay awake. I was very worried when I was first diagnosed with my (complicated) condition but found on the internet that there are many who share the symptoms.
This light box has been a real benefit to my life because I can avoid the medications which give me metabolic problems. I've done some shopping research and this lightphoria is definitely not the most sophisticated S.A.D. light device but it does what it should do very well. It has all the functions which it needs and hasn't let me down on any aspects.

Very satisfied with the purchase but could not give it 5 star because I am sure there are better ones available, but just with a higher price tag.

The Light Therapy Pad worked for about two weeks, then began to shut off and would not turn back until many hours later. I assume it has to do with the timer. It is lightweight and feels flimsy but this would be a minor issue if the pad had kept working. Using it without the timer did not make a difference, it consistently turns off in less than five minutes.

For about 10 years I have suffered with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and had many people recommend this light box therapy to me. I never really believed in it however thought I may as well try it since nothing else was helping. SAD seemed to have run in my family and my daughter claimed that it worked after three weeks. This wasn't the case for me and I was experiencing results within 3 days, there was a big difference. My sleeping patterns and mood have immensely improved and I generally feel a much better level of wellbeing. As long as you follow the instructions carefully, I don't believe that the product's brightness levels or light rays should cause any negative effect as people have speculated, (these days everybody thinks that everything is cacogenic) and if you are concerned about that, there is a set timer so that you can use it before you sleep and you don't have to worry about falling asleep and having it run all night, also you can adjust the intensity. This Lightphoria SAD light was one of the best rated in terms of quality and price when I was doing my research and I am very relieved that my SAD symptoms are no longer affecting my quality of life.

This review is for the Lightphoria SAD lamp. It's very well designed physically. It doesn't heat up as I expected a light lamp to do which is a relief. It doesn't emit odors and weird smells as I read from reviews of other similar SAD lights.

The color of the light is white and intensity is very bright no matter if it is on low medium or high.

The instructions are quite clear on how to operate it, teaching the distance in which it needs to be away from your eyes and how many minutes you should use it a day.

The only question is if it will work to alleviate SAD symptoms. The user manuals claims this unit to be clinically proven etc. but I have reservation on this. The light is no different (from what I can see) to any light that lamps produce other than it is whiter and brighter. Just by this difference, it claims to make you happier. I will have to try it out a few weeks to prove its effectiveness.

This isn't the top of the line SAD light you can get but it does the job as advertised. I was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder 3 years ago and I've been looking for an alternative therapy to pills. I settled on getting the Lightphoria for the reasonable price. The therapy has worked well for me so far - I use it 45 minutes every morning at a distance of 18 inches. The light is very bright but not too much to strain my eyes. Good product for what you pay for.

A great SAD light that is lightweight, portable and well-designed. I spend my morning using light therapy while I eat my breakfast. It isnt bothering but don't stare into the light! It feels like sitting out in the sun for a picnic breakfast...atleast imagining so makes me energetic already!
I'm on my 5th day of the therapy and I'm not sure about the effect on my seasonal affective disorder...but I can feel more alert during the daytime. Ive got faith in this thing and I will continue to use it for a couple of weeks to see if its really that good.

The gadget itself is fine (so far). I like the small size, light weight, adjustibility of light strength and the timer. It probably should cost a quarter of the price as far as the actual thing goes. But it's effect is more than worth the money.
I am energized all day. With a tendency towards depression, I have accumulated quite an array of health strategies: exercise, low sugar, plenty of water, fish oil, positive thinking, reframing, gratitude and a very determined "Stop and smell the roses" approach to daily life. But every February I find myself bogged down and unable to dig out. Every winter, no matter how determined, I just gradually find myself less and less able to employ the behaviors that prevent depression.
I think this is the missing piece. I felt a difference the first day I used it. (I got it at the beginning of December, so was not yet depressed when I got it although I could feel myself slipping. Possibly if you actually are depressed when you begin it would take awhile for the effect to build.)
I started waking up at 4:30 the first week so I switched from high to medium intensity and alternate 15 and 30 minutes. I'm not having that problem anymore.
I started hearing about light therapy years ago but of course the times I needed it were the times when I was unable to take the action of looking it up. If you are depressed or have that tendancy, try it. It's so much better than a pill.
And to those of you who are depressed, I just want to send a little love. Those negative thoughts about yourself aren't true. They're just chemical. You deserve to enjoy your life.

I've been suffering from SAD since I moved to North Dakota. I've nevered used a SAD lamp before and this is the first I got, and I feel that for $70 this is the best money spent in a long time. I had problems with my mood swings since last year and I was recommended to get this by my doctor. Here are some things worth mentioning:
- it's very compact and portable
- adapter works for european voltages (220v)
- well built construction
- I use it on HIGH setting most of the time to get the full 10,000 lux.
- I can fall alseep within a short timeframe now
- It's easy to use and doesn't take much learning to use it
- I was worried about replacing the bulbs but after emailing the manufacturer where to find the bulbs they told me that the LEDs won't burn out, and if they do, they are willing to replace the WHOLE thing for me.
- The angle is limited, so I'm forced to rest the unit on a thick book to elevate it on my desk
- the price is great!

It is inexpensive in comparison to other professed SAD lights. When it arrives, you can understand why.
It is very small, about the size of a larger paperback book, and thin.
Believe me when I say it is made of light-weight plastic.
The support stand on the back is akin to a collapsible stand on an upright picture frame.

All of that being said, does it provide bright light? Yes. Extremely bright.
Are there variable light settings? Yes.
Are there timer settings? Yes.
Can it be used without setting a timer? Yes.

Personally I use mine while showering in the morning. The countertop places it at a pretty decent peripheral position as I brush my teeth, put on makeup, dry my hair, and otherwise make myself fabulous.
Warning: you may not want to see what you look like in that bright of a light.

Other SAD lights are enormous, costly, and extremely limited as far as to where they can be placed to be used daily as recommended. If this model was to be used as a permanent fixture, the power cord is likely too short.

Overall, it is over priced for the quality of the craftsmanship and the options, but it is priced lower than the competition.
When you push the button, the light comes on. It's a light.
What you see is what you get.

Not sure if its a placebo effect but it feels like sunbathing every morning!

At first, this product was irritating to my eyes, but once you use it for a week your eyes get used to it and adopts with the bright light. Yes it is very bright and if it wasn't so bright I don't think it'll work.

Now that I've got this and proved it has worked for me, I want to get a more expensive model. I'm looking into the philips Golite. Is there anyone who's got the Lightphoria AND the Golite?

LOVED this product! Amazing price, great results. I used to get all my energy from going to the gym, but after I broke my leg, I couldn't go anymore and was stuck at home feeling lethargic and tired with the gloomy weather. Within a few sessions with this product, I feel like I am back to the way I was. There are no complaints about this great product and I recommend it to anyone that reads this. This product is wonderful for anybody with depression seasonal or fatigue, 5 stars!

I ordered this light therapy lamp out of despair. I lost my job 2 months ago and frequently got into really bad mood swings. I was suffering from depression and was on medication for a couple of weeks. After using this for a week I definitely felt a change and my mood swings were less severe. It's got what I need (10,000 lux) but it comes at a high price!

Recommended for patients suffering from depression.

I used this product as directed and it did not help with my SAD symptoms. I gave 3 stars becuase the product worked well and seems like it is made well. It's light, but sturdy enough for what it was intended... to sit on a table. The back prop-up piece seems like it wouldn't stay attached if dropped (so be careful), but the rest of it seems like it will last.