What Is Bright Light Therapy For Insomnia

Bright light therapy involves you in exposure to intense levels of light under controlled conditions.

The light is normally provided by a "light box". In essence this is simply an enclosed box containing a number of fluorescent tubes and fitted with a screen to diffuse the light (a bit like a brighter version of the box the optician uses to test your eyesight, but without the letters and lines). Although early research used "full-spectrum" bulbs that gave out a light similar to outdoor daylight (in terms of color composition), the latest versions of bright light therapy lamps use special cool-white, triphosphor or bi-axial bulbs. The lamps also vary in intensity but, in the majority of cases, a brightness of about 10,000 lux is recommended.

The treatment consists of sitting in front of the lamp, normally positioned on a table or desk, for periods ranging from about fifteen minutes up to two or three hours. While undertaking the treatment you can eat, read, work on your computer, play cards or indeed do just about anything the choose.

The import point to remember is that you need to keep your eyes open throughout the treatment and must keep your head angled towards the light box to receive the benefit required. You should not however look directly at the light box.

If you suffer from a pre-existing retinal or eye condition (such as: retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, previous cataract surgery, lens removal or diabetes mellitus) you should consult your ophthalmologist before undertaking bright light therapy.

Next >>> Is Bright Light Therapy Effective?

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The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.