My office was moved to a basement level and I felt myself getting depressed. I purchased light therapy and I’m back to my normal self. Daylight is so important.
Disabled veteran here. I've always had seasonal depression (actually just depression in general) & when i told my Dr she said, do you want for me to send you a light box?? I had never even heard of one. The VA sent me this huge box, 2 feet in length & 1 ft in heighth. Little larger than i expected, but it's the VA. I'm currently sitting in front of it as I sip my coffee & found this video. Extremely well done research, sir. Thank you! ❤
Timestamps: 02:18 Product Overview 02:45 Company History and "Natural Spectrum" 04:27 10,000 Lux Claim; Lux vs. Lumens Explanation 08:46 Lux vs. Distance Test; Lamp Positioning 12:03 Melanopic (M/P) Ratio & Melanopic Lux 16:22 Vertical Placement 18:25 LED Measurements; Choosing a Better LED 20:00 Flicker Test 22:49 Final Thoughts
Since you have a Spectrophotometer, it would be really cool if you could measure the Lux of the Elgato Key Light at various distances. It's an extremely popular light that claims to be offering 2800 lumens, but it doesn't say how many Lux (and at what distances) That's because it's not meant specifically for light therapy, but for video production and streaming. But it looks really bright, so I'm wondering if it can be dual purpose (used for both video production and light therapy)
The Elgato Key Light can also be mounted on the desk (so about 24 inches away from you) and angled, for optimal melanopic efficiency. So it would be really cool if a light nerd such as yourself would do some measurements on this thing. I'm thinking about getting two of them and mounting one of the right side and one of the left side of my desk.
Hi Greg. I have a urgent question. I found this item: NASLI SunSun FP 4x24W, it says its FULLSPECTRAL imitation of Sun.. Do you think this a a completely different technology than f.e. VERILUX'S, or it is totally the same thing just packed in nice words? These days it costs 200-250€. Enlighten me! Thx
Sleep medicine doc here. A lot of our colleagues had no idea what on earth 10000 lux meant and just recommended it for people for insomnia. This video is great! I have a lamp myself but I was aware that I was not getting 10000 lux. I figured that was just an insane number. I also have luminette glasses which I think are pretty effective.
Really appreciate your input on this. We are working on a product that is going to make the 10,000 lux claim completely obsolete and give people more balanced, low-glare illumination that still supports circadian stimulus. If you're interested, please sign up for the newsletter at bedtimebulb.com or drop us a line at hey [at] bedtimebulb [dot] com.
@@GregYeutter Do you guys also make a therapy light product for SAD, or do you even recommend that anymore at this point? I know this video is a few years old, is it better to just get regular lightbulbs that have enhanced spectrum?
@@GregYeutter. Greg, you are awesome. I will sign up for your newsletter. > any science regarding dementia patients? You see, they are giving dementia patients anti-depressants under the guise- to help raise serotonin levels! Well, these anti-depressants are not very nice. They damage the mitochondria in the neuronal cells.
@@martinlutherkingjr.5582 It's not that the metric itself is obsolete, it's that it's the wrong metric for circadian input, so the "10,000 lux" claim should not be made. Will have more to show soon.
I've been watching a bunch of generic stuff from psychiatrists about light therapy but this was what I was looking for. The light box I purchased (prior to watching this) does have a 6500k LED so that's good. Vertical placement makes sense since the sun shines down into your eyes at an angle. I think I'll be leaving my light on for a longer time at a lower intensity. Thanks for the great info.
Mr. Yeutter, Thank you for taking the time to research this and make this video. After having positive results using this light, I’ve been recommending the happy light to people in my life, but I couldn’t really explain why it works, circadian rhythm, or what a lumen is. I celebrate you, Mr. Light Nerd. My favorite quotes (Paraphrasing): “I measured this with my spectrophotometer” and “I built an Excel to figure this out.”
The level of detail in this video is truly remarkable; your approach is not that of a RUclipsr, but a scientist in a lab, and you show just as much rigor.
I have one in my home office. I can't quantify the benefits but I love being in that type of light. Usually id look out the window and think omg its dark already. I've not been doing that.
I found this while trying to find a stand for my happy light to mount above me. I didn’t find one, but really enjoyed your video! But now I definitely know that I need to find a way to mount it higher.
I learned so much watching this video. Just the difference between lumens and lux was explained so well that it got stuck in my mind. One of the most informative videos on this topic.
I can’t express how refreshing it is to have come across this video. The information here is so clear, concise and relevant. You’ve done a fantastic job at explaining this and the effort really shows. Thank you!
The main problem I have with most of therapy lights is they look like they give off foggy/muggy day sunlight which the opposite of the sunlight I need. The sunlight i like is bright sunny days, these are really bright and white instead of yellow and warm.
From someone that knows absolutely nothing about any of this, but bought one of these light sources, this video BY FAR gave me knowledge that I absolutely appreciate. By giving just the facts and in a way that the common person can comprehend and understand is greatly appreciated. Thank you for the info! I will likely NEVER need this info, but just understanding what's going on is exactly what I needed. Awesome video.
I got one for Christmas and my mood improved after the first use. It’s magic. I have a second one now and keep them shining on me whenever I sit down somewhere.
Definitely! There's a huge inverse correlation between searches for light-related topics and the length of days. For example, check out the Google search trends for "light therapy": trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=light%20therapy
Wow, Greg... totally awesome video in every way. I was involved in one of the original studies of SAD at the University of Washington . Living here with so many months of f darkness and low hanging clouds, these really help. I was given a Dawn simulator for my participation. Your video is so informative, but done in such a way that that “everyday Jill” can understand it. Kudos to you for your service to us I will definitely be looking for all the products you inspire! Your Mum must be proud of you!😏 Looking forward to more of you!! Thanks !
I've always wondered about this. Some products actually advertise how far away you need to be for the full 10k lux, and it's usually ridiculously close. These devices have always seemed way too small to be effective, and it makes me wonder if it's just better to buy really bright light bulbs and light up a whole room. I'm waiting to see light bulbs that will change temperature throughout the day. It's odd how these aren't already a popular thing, as the technology has been around for quite some time.
As someone who intuitively knows that more is not always better (applies to everything) and a very bright light could possibly be a trigger for epilepsy and other adverse health effects, I immediately started looking for reviews like yours. Thank you very much.
Have you tried the tuo light? It flickers between specific wave lengths to simulate dawn. Supposedly they’ve tested it on patients at Berkley. I didn’t notice any difference from an alaska northern lights northstar 10,000 lux fluorescent light box just that its effects were a little weaker, probably since it was noticeably dimmer. I used 6 tuo lights at once. Had the same withdrawal effects I get with any light box that I don’t from sunlight.
Thank you Greg for all that really useful info. You briefly alluded at the end to a question I have though: A surgeon told me that if you are taking vitamin D supplements (or eating oily fish, etc.) the vitamin needs to activated by light. Is there a metric for how these lights activate vitamin D which is arguably more important than mood.
We shouldn't use screens before bed. But since we do anyway, here are a few tricks to make them produce much less blue light: ruclips.net/video/wK04m5BupIA/видео.html
Greg, there is a difference between vitamin D producing light and full spectrum. Please explain that vitamin D from the skin can only be produced from the sun between months April to November. This can also lead to depression is the lack of vitamin d. Please explain the difference between full spectrum circadian lights and vitamin d producing light. Do we need both?
I don’t normally comment on videos, however the quality of information you provided and your ability to simplify these terms was really good. Keep up the good work!
Great video and very important topic! So you are saying one could also use studio video lights for light therapy purposes? I'm looking at a few video lights from Godox which put out around 20 000-30 000 lux or more of 96+ CRI quality 5600K daylight measured at one meter, which is much more than many of those light therapy panels out there. But does the temperature of the light also matter? Since sunrise is around 3000-4000K, shouldn't the artificial light also mimic that to be most effective in triggering the start of the melatonin production and affect the circadian rhythm?
So continuing on my thread of the lumens you can actually calculate how many lux you will receive based on a square footage of an area by doing a conversion calculator. And it seems like certain corn shapep- Yes, that's what it's called-Light bulbs will help with this. However, the wattage might exceed your standard lamp of 100 w. these lamps are used in warehouses, large areas where illuminations are needed and would actually help you a lot more because with the right wattage you can install them in several light fixtures inside a room so you don't have to sit 12 in away from something or 6 in for some lux lamps. You can just walk around and do your day like normal inside your house, while receiving the SAD light benefits.
Very clear and helpful video! I just purchased a lamp from Beurer. They are the lead in Europe I think. They actually state the distance in CM you need to be from the product to get 10.000 lux etc.
This is such an informative video. As a science and facts and data geek, I needed this, thank you Greg! I have recently moved to a location by the Arctic circle and I have been considering getting one of these SAD lights, as we will soon go into total darkness out here. I have been doing lots of research and reading up on these lamps and honestly haven’t been totally convinced… This video has been by far the most comprehensive source of information. Personally, I have been looking at Beurer, which has been celebrated for its German engineering and also as it has been certified/approved as medical equipment. Would love to get you test one of their products. However after watching this video, I think that even my Newer stand lamp might be a good source of light for the circadian rhythm. Thank you so much for making this video!
I vaguely remember hearing that at least sunlight being received by not just the eyes, but all the rest of the body also moves the process of the circadian rhythm along (unscientific wording, but I'm trying to get the point across)... So I'm wondering if and how beneficial it can be to hold it at 6 inches, but not toward the face and eyes, but toward bare skin
There is research being done in this area, but we're in the early days. Longer wavelength (think red and infrared) light is going to be able to penetrate the skin further than blue/green/violet/ultraviolet, so personally I would stick with the SAD light as intended, but some sunshine here and there wouldn't hurt.
@@GregYeutterTheres a RUclips vid where a woman says that her led face mask helped her depression, as a side-effect. I'm tempted to buy one, but am worried about the effect of the red infrared and far infrared light effects on eyesight.(Perhaps closing the eyes would be enough to reduce this , but will it be as effective.) Do u have any thoughts on this ? Thanks for greatly informative vid.
Just discovered your channel. Very thorough and interesting. I'd love to see a review of the different SAD lamps and what your recommendation would be.
Thanks for this thorough video! There's so much positive fluff and lack of rigor when it comes to descriptions and reviews of these products, it was refreshing to see someone thoroughly look at both the product and the science behind it. Seeing every single therapy light say "10,000 lux" I was already like, anytime every single brand's type of product makes the same exact claim I'm instantly suspicious of its truthfulness and usefulness.
The reference range for vitamin D is way too high. I was totally healthy despite my blood vitamin D levels being officially in the "deficient" range, but then I took a supplement against my better judgment and that gave me an unhealthily low platelet count.
1. Thank you for including TM-30 data. This is the best tool we have today for analyzing and representing a light source's colour quality. 2. Thank you for making the distinction between lumens and lux. Using lux to describe the performance of a light source would be like using km/h to describe the performance of a car instead of horsepower. 3. Thank you for referencing the WELL Building Standard and Melanopic Ratio. Understanding Melanopic Ratio is the key to circadian lighting design. 4. Thank you for for demonstrating the area of the retina where the intrinsically photoreceptive ganglion cells actually are present. It's important to make sure a light source is above the horizon in order for the light to be received by the ipRGCs. Great job on this video!
I took vitamin D3 last winter, and was doing much better without any light. If you are in Western, PA - its usually cloudy there - and especially in the winter - even more cloudy - ALL THE TIME. Should help those cases. But I would try vitamin D3 though in any case.
But if you need a 10,000 lumens to combat SAD that is truly a 25,000 lux lamp. Also, I noticed that grow lamps emit light in the blue range of 468 nanometers. So check into that instead of buying an expensive SAD light. A grow light can also help your plants 😊
Great video. I didn't expect to watch all l the way through. Does anyone know if Verilux is still using the "cheap" led or if they are using a better quality led to fill in the cyan gap?
I really like the studio light idea. Do you have any recommendations for one to achieve the desired stimulation? Perhaps something wall mountable. Cheers - great video!
Thank you for this video, it helped a lot. I'll put it on a monitor arm to aim it from above. My psychiatrist recommended one for my treatment-resistant depression and I was worried I would get an ineffective one. At this point, I would be willing to put it directly onto my eyeball if it could help.
Thanks for making this video. My psychiatrist gave me a packet with a ton of info on this, and you hit the nail on the head. “Happy lights” are ineffective- basically just placebo. I use the BoxElite from Northern Light Technologies. It is 12x15 inches, warm light, and over 10,000 lux at 14 inches away
Angle of the light doesn’t stack up if you have astigmatism which makes light rays splay out rather than move normally if diagnosed you may have glasses to help direct the light or even contact lenses but undiagnosed and there may be a problem with that and many don’t realise there headaches and migraines and eye strain is actually because of astigmatism (rugby ball eye shape rather than round)
I really appreciate your inclusion of the melanopic study. I find the light barely tolerable at the recommended desk positioning. However, propped on an apple box on my desk (an unattractive, but useful hack), it just feels like a bright sunny morning. This is how I'll be using the product going forward. Thx!
The source of light doesn't need to be above the eye. It's enough if it is above the line of sight! If we look forward to a screen, a lamp on the table is below our line of sight and won't affect our sensors (then we would need a wall mount). BUT, if we read a book on a table, a lamp on the table will already be above our line of sight and the light will hit our sensors. This might be a reason, why these lamps seem to work for some people and won't for others.
Still a good video even in 2023, great job! Funnily enough I was researching key lights and how they would compare to something that is supposedly designed for light therapy and you confirmed my suspicions, thank you. I'm looking at the Neewer 15.5" Streaming Key Light and it seems like it would be a good fit for light therapy.
What qualities make you think it's a good fit for light therapy? I don't see a graph of the amount of light it puts out at different color temperatures. Did you end up going with this?
@@noahlschneider A few factors would make a key light a good fit for light therapy - brightness, color temperature and full spectrum light. Lighting used for photography has a CRI rating, take a look at this description of CRI relating to sunlight - "The most common measure of color rendering is the Color Rendering Index (CRI). Sunlight shows the true colors of an object and, therefore, has a perfect CRI of 100. It's the natural light standard against which all other light sources are compared when calculating CRI." Based on that, I think a key light with adequate brightness, in the correct color temperature range and with a high CRI rating would be a good fit but as you mentioned you'd want to be sure you're getting adequate lumens at the correct color temperature. I haven't got around to testing this theory personally.
Just find a full spectrum grow light. Thats what your missing in winter. If its great for growing plants then its also what your body needs. LUX is measured light per square meter Lumen is the output of the LED I own a led business for 10+ years and thats my knowledge on it
I live in Alaska and where in December through February the sun rises around 11am and its set by 3pm and totally dark again. I rely on Verilux Happy Lamp. I also take Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol). I spend a lot of time outdoors, but it is complete darkness. I turn it on for a half hour while I eat breakfast, take a shower and go to work. I go to work in the dark, I come home in the dark. I work in a psychiatric hospital and I can tell you that pretty much all our patients have SAD. I was skeptical when I first purchased it, but it did make a huge difference. It also does not got hot. I place it at the 2 o'clock position. Its also good for resetting your sleep if you are a day sleeper, turn it on in the beginning of your day. Thank you for the great video.
Just curious, you've done the tests on the HappyLight, can you provide us with the same info you had trouble getting from Verilux? That is, with the studio setup: what distance is optimal, what light settings (Kelvins, lumens, etc)? I guess it won't be the same between different gear, but it would be nice to understand how to actually use products you linked, especially since the use is experimental, I doubt there will be many resources?
Because the SAD has a very 'early peak' in the spectrum regarding blue light or UV-light. Is there a chance that a SAD light is harmful for the eyes, and how can one find out? I just bought one this week, but I'm a bit weary of the type of light. Thank you for the very informative video btw!
They really need to pay you for this great video, would have never bought their product if I had not come across this video. You did a great job, great information and explanation for none nerds (thank God for nerds).
You omitted the main part about light therapy which is really important. Melatonin, serotonin, kortosol... You cannot use this throughout the day, as you said from 9 to 13. It has to be used only in the morning not later than 8 a.m. Why? You have to stop melatonin production and increase cortisol. So timing is really important here since it's crucial for adjusting circadian rhythm which is some kind of inner clock of our body.
Thank you for this, so helpful! I was wondering if you had learned about the 'warm light' setting that they have on the lights now - you can choose between "warm white" and "day light." Warm white is much nice on the eye, but I wondered if it impacted the MP ratio or the melanopic lux you get.
Question: I just bought a Miroco light. I know you are not supposed to stare directly into the light, but is it possible to do damage to your eyes with the light on and eyes closed? Just seems crazy bright and want to make sure I’m not doing longer term damage. I put the light source directly in front of me and about 2 feet away. Thanks!
This video was very informative, loved it. I do have a question though that maybe you can answer, would LED lightbulbs in your house have the same effect or are they nowhere near as intense a the lightbox source?
Thanks! The answer would be: it depends. First, the bulbs will be more effective if they are high-blue (think "daylight" bulbs over "soft white" or "warm white" bulbs). However, warmer bulbs may be more comfortable over long durations-you just need a longer exposure. Second, it depends on how bright they are. The closer you are to the light, or the brighter the light is, the more effective it will be. But just like the HappyLight, I wouldn't put the thing less than 2 feet from your face. If you have a quite-bright, but not overbearing light source a few feet away, and if you sit by it for a few hours, that should be enough.
@@GregYeutter The reason I ask is because I just got one of their desk lamp 2 in one Happy light versions and the chipset looks completely updated in comparison to my gf's luxe flat panel style. The max britghness is higher on it for sure and there are now 7 increments of brigthness. Would be amazing if you did a review on one! (Can always return to amazon after done review :p)
@@federere2142 Yeah, I get that it's slightly improved in terms of brightness levels etc. But overall pretty similar in terms of what to expect and how to use it. I'm pretty unhappy with any of the SAD lights on the market, and we're working something better. You can find out when we release that by signing up for the newsletter at bedtimebulb.com
This was a truly informative and interesting video. I was engaged the entire time and learnt a lot. Really appreciate your in depth analysis of the product.
this was a really good video for a laymen and it sifts through all the paid reviews which im thankful for. the winter at the end of COVID im sure these things will blow up, i know i bought one
Thanks so much! I have another video related to this topic premiering in a few minutes: Do SAD Lamps Stimulate Vitamin D Production? ruclips.net/video/MQv1N7iJCM8/видео.html
After watching your video and doing some research I ordered the yeelight pro because it was the only lamp I found that fulfills all requirements, thanks a lot.
This is actually the first time I've heard of melanopic light. Very informative. I only had time to skim around the video; what I'm looking to get is something that will stimulate Vitamin D absorption. Is UV needed for that? Or can a HappyLight or other Verilux product help with that? Would love to get your knowledge on that subject.
Hi Greg, I'm just 1/3 of the way through your video and having to pause to go do stuff. I know its 3 years since uploading but I was just wondering if you could recommend me a genuine and effective SAD light, as I've been diagnosed with SAD and as its getting into shorter days here in the UK id really appreciate it. I have no budget limit, just would like a solution to this shit, its dark and gloomy too much here right now lol. Also is there a difference in wake up lights vs SAD lights? Sorry for the questions but its all new to me and so I'm beginning research, but you're clearly extremely knowledgeable so I'd appreciate any help 😊 P.s. I don't struggle with getting to sleep/staying asleep (I sleep too much if anything)
⚠ For those asking, I unfortunately can't provide product recommendations for specific SAD lamps. I am frankly disappointed by what's on the market, and we're working on something way better. To be the first to know when it launches, please sign up for the Restful/Bedtime Bulb newsletter: bedtimebulb.com/newsletter-signup ☀️ Vitamin D deficiency is common, especially in the winter months. In this follow-up video, I'll show you exactly why SAD therapy lights won't help with Vitamin D, and what you can do instead: ruclips.net/video/MQv1N7iJCM8/видео.html 💡 Should Edison, Swan, or someone else get credit for inventing the light bulb? This video explores the 19th-century development of this world-changing technology: ruclips.net/video/nfe-iQBUOjA/видео.html
@thecloudboundsound Any of them are probably fine. At least from the Verilux brand, they are all quite similar. Some of the higher-end models have more features, but those aren't really necessary.
So it’s been years since this video, has your opinion changed since than about SAD lamps? Is there any recommendations now? I really struggle with my insomnia for years and it triggers my ADHD even more than usual. But when we have sunny morning (England so quite rare thing) I sleep like a baby at night! It was such a shock for me how directly it impacts my sleeping so I try to find a lamp or solution to not just hope and pray the next morning ah e some sunshine 😅
Hi Greg, thanks for the great video. I learned a tone. I am trying to find the 6500k Enhanced-spectrum LEd that draws the curve in your video at 19:26. Could you let me know what that product is?
How Do the blue light units work or alter your findings? I have a Philips Golight unit which only produces blue light - the marketing info is that by purely displaying blue light the unit does not need to be so bright so the user still gets the same (or more) of the required blue light rather than the eyes having to filter the blue light from the total spectrum of full spectrum light. I think mine is around 200 lux. It does seem to help and certainly no where near produces as much glare as the full spectrum (white) lights like the one you review here. thanks
Do you still recommend the Verilux? Any thoughts on Northern Light Technologies sad lamps? They are much more expensive but have a floor lamp and desk lamp you can position above you.
I have never seen anyone talk about lights with so much passion and calmness at the same time!!!
Thank you!
My office was moved to a basement level and I felt myself getting depressed. I purchased light therapy and I’m back to my normal self. Daylight is so important.
Stumbled upon this and it's probably the most informative RUclips video I've seen in the last 6 months. Really well done
Thank you!
I can't agree more. Thank you Greg Yeutter.
You are full of sh*t!
@@alisonc5746 why lie?
Liar
Disabled veteran here. I've always had seasonal depression (actually just depression in general) & when i told my Dr she said, do you want for me to send you a light box?? I had never even heard of one. The VA sent me this huge box, 2 feet in length & 1 ft in heighth. Little larger than i expected, but it's the VA. I'm currently sitting in front of it as I sip my coffee & found this video. Extremely well done research, sir. Thank you! ❤
Hope it's working!
Timestamps:
02:18 Product Overview
02:45 Company History and "Natural Spectrum"
04:27 10,000 Lux Claim; Lux vs. Lumens Explanation
08:46 Lux vs. Distance Test; Lamp Positioning
12:03 Melanopic (M/P) Ratio & Melanopic Lux
16:22 Vertical Placement
18:25 LED Measurements; Choosing a Better LED
20:00 Flicker Test
22:49 Final Thoughts
Since you have a Spectrophotometer, it would be really cool if you could measure the Lux of the Elgato Key Light at various distances. It's an extremely popular light that claims to be offering 2800 lumens, but it doesn't say how many Lux (and at what distances) That's because it's not meant specifically for light therapy, but for video production and streaming. But it looks really bright, so I'm wondering if it can be dual purpose (used for both video production and light therapy)
The Elgato Key Light can also be mounted on the desk (so about 24 inches away from you) and angled, for optimal melanopic efficiency. So it would be really cool if a light nerd such as yourself would do some measurements on this thing. I'm thinking about getting two of them and mounting one of the right side and one of the left side of my desk.
Hi Greg. I have a urgent question. I found this item: NASLI SunSun FP 4x24W, it says its FULLSPECTRAL imitation of Sun..
Do you think this a a completely different technology than f.e. VERILUX'S, or it is totally the same thing just packed in nice words? These days it costs 200-250€. Enlighten me! Thx
@@sandercohen3309 “light nerd such as yourself” 😂😂😂
Sleep medicine doc here. A lot of our colleagues had no idea what on earth 10000 lux meant and just recommended it for people for insomnia. This video is great! I have a lamp myself but I was aware that I was not getting 10000 lux. I figured that was just an insane number. I also have luminette glasses which I think are pretty effective.
Really appreciate your input on this. We are working on a product that is going to make the 10,000 lux claim completely obsolete and give people more balanced, low-glare illumination that still supports circadian stimulus. If you're interested, please sign up for the newsletter at bedtimebulb.com or drop us a line at hey [at] bedtimebulb [dot] com.
@@GregYeutter Do you guys also make a therapy light product for SAD, or do you even recommend that anymore at this point? I know this video is a few years old, is it better to just get regular lightbulbs that have enhanced spectrum?
@@GregYeutter. Greg, you are awesome. I will sign up for your newsletter.
> any science regarding dementia patients?
You see, they are giving dementia patients anti-depressants under the guise- to help raise serotonin levels!
Well, these anti-depressants are not very nice. They damage the mitochondria in the neuronal cells.
@@GregYeutterHow is a product going to make a unit for measuring light intensity obsolete?
@@martinlutherkingjr.5582 It's not that the metric itself is obsolete, it's that it's the wrong metric for circadian input, so the "10,000 lux" claim should not be made. Will have more to show soon.
I've been watching a bunch of generic stuff from psychiatrists about light therapy but this was what I was looking for. The light box I purchased (prior to watching this) does have a 6500k LED so that's good. Vertical placement makes sense since the sun shines down into your eyes at an angle. I think I'll be leaving my light on for a longer time at a lower intensity. Thanks for the great info.
This guy has such a charming and soothing personality to me, I ended up watching the whole thing 😍😂
Very informative video! Thanks!
you must be gay enjoying a guys voice
Mr. Yeutter,
Thank you for taking the time to research this and make this video.
After having positive results using this light, I’ve been recommending the happy light to people in my life, but I couldn’t really explain why it works, circadian rhythm, or what a lumen is.
I celebrate you, Mr. Light Nerd.
My favorite quotes (Paraphrasing): “I measured this with my spectrophotometer” and “I built an Excel to figure this out.”
Thank you!
Thank you, for sharing your video. It’s very informative. 🙂
The level of detail in this video is truly remarkable; your approach is not that of a RUclipsr, but a scientist in a lab, and you show just as much rigor.
wow, what a video!!!!!!! So helpful, thank you so much 🙏
Thank YOU!
I have one in my home office. I can't quantify the benefits but I love being in that type of light. Usually id look out the window and think omg its dark already. I've not been doing that.
Finally someone who knows what they're talking about and doesn't only want to sell stuff, their souls included 🙌
It's very hard to trust people in a capootalist environment. No wonder "s.a.d" is a thing
As someone who knew absolutely nothing about lights previously, thank you for explaining everything so clearly and effectively.
I found this while trying to find a stand for my happy light to mount above me. I didn’t find one, but really enjoyed your video! But now I definitely know that I need to find a way to mount it higher.
Thank you!
I learned so much watching this video. Just the difference between lumens and lux was explained so well that it got stuck in my mind. One of the most informative videos on this topic.
I can’t express how refreshing it is to have come across this video. The information here is so clear, concise and relevant. You’ve done a fantastic job at explaining this and the effort really shows. Thank you!
I wish everyone would review products the way you did here! Great job sir
The main problem I have with most of therapy lights is they look like they give off foggy/muggy day sunlight which the opposite of the sunlight I need. The sunlight i like is bright sunny days, these are really bright and white instead of yellow and warm.
From someone that knows absolutely nothing about any of this, but bought one of these light sources, this video BY FAR gave me knowledge that I absolutely appreciate. By giving just the facts and in a way that the common person can comprehend and understand is greatly appreciated. Thank you for the info! I will likely NEVER need this info, but just understanding what's going on is exactly what I needed. Awesome video.
Thank you!
I got one for Christmas and my mood improved after the first use. It’s magic. I have a second one now and keep them shining on me whenever I sit down somewhere.
What brand would you recommend? I’m looking to get one.
Winter is approaching, and so do the views for this video :D
Definitely! There's a huge inverse correlation between searches for light-related topics and the length of days. For example, check out the Google search trends for "light therapy": trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=light%20therapy
Wow, Greg... totally awesome video in every way. I was involved in one of the original studies of SAD at the University of Washington . Living here with so many months of f darkness and low hanging clouds, these really help. I was given a Dawn simulator for my participation. Your video is so informative, but done in such a way that that “everyday Jill” can understand it. Kudos to you for your service to us I will definitely be looking for all the products you inspire! Your Mum must be proud of you!😏 Looking forward to more of you!! Thanks !
Thanks so much!
I've always wondered about this. Some products actually advertise how far away you need to be for the full 10k lux, and it's usually ridiculously close. These devices have always seemed way too small to be effective, and it makes me wonder if it's just better to buy really bright light bulbs and light up a whole room. I'm waiting to see light bulbs that will change temperature throughout the day. It's odd how these aren't already a popular thing, as the technology has been around for quite some time.
You need a radioactive type light similar to that of reptiles at the pet store
I had a rough day and for I appreciated this video so much. Interesting and calming. Thank you for the video!
As someone who intuitively knows that more is not always better (applies to everything) and a very bright light could possibly be a trigger for epilepsy and other adverse health effects, I immediately started looking for reviews like yours. Thank you very much.
Have you tried the tuo light? It flickers between specific wave lengths to simulate dawn. Supposedly they’ve tested it on patients at Berkley. I didn’t notice any difference from an alaska northern lights northstar 10,000 lux fluorescent light box just that its effects were a little weaker, probably since it was noticeably dimmer. I used 6 tuo lights at once. Had the same withdrawal effects I get with any light box that I don’t from sunlight.
Thank you Greg for all that really useful info. You briefly alluded at the end to a question I have though: A surgeon told me that if you are taking vitamin D supplements (or eating oily fish, etc.) the vitamin needs to activated by light. Is there a metric for how these lights activate vitamin D which is arguably more important than mood.
We shouldn't use screens before bed. But since we do anyway, here are a few tricks to make them produce much less blue light: ruclips.net/video/wK04m5BupIA/видео.html
So halogen bulb is much better than LED?
Greg, there is a difference between vitamin D producing light and full spectrum. Please explain that vitamin D from the skin can only be produced from the sun between months April to November. This can also lead to depression is the lack of vitamin d. Please explain the difference between full spectrum circadian lights and vitamin d producing light. Do we need both?
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO INFORMATIVE......I am a teacher a vegan and an organic farmer and you elevated and educated me today....THANK YOU....
I don’t normally comment on videos, however the quality of information you provided and your ability to simplify these terms was really good. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
Do Halogen bulbs get darker with time?
1) Excellent video.
2) I noticed that Verilux now has an LED "happylight" floor lamp; it should help with the angle of light issue.
The amount of informations in this video is insane 🤣 I just can't wrap my head around about how much time he actually put into it. 👏👏 very well done
Ive never purchased an affiliated item but im super impressed with his research and review of this product.
i bought it today.
Great video and very important topic! So you are saying one could also use studio video lights for light therapy purposes? I'm looking at a few video lights from Godox which put out around 20 000-30 000 lux or more of 96+ CRI quality 5600K daylight measured at one meter, which is much more than many of those light therapy panels out there. But does the temperature of the light also matter? Since sunrise is around 3000-4000K, shouldn't the artificial light also mimic that to be most effective in triggering the start of the melatonin production and affect the circadian rhythm?
So continuing on my thread of the lumens you can actually calculate how many lux you will receive based on a square footage of an area by doing a conversion calculator.
And it seems like certain corn shapep- Yes, that's what it's called-Light bulbs will help with this. However, the wattage might exceed your standard lamp of 100 w. these lamps are used in warehouses, large areas where illuminations are needed and would actually help you a lot more because with the right wattage you can install them in several light fixtures inside a room so you don't have to sit 12 in away from something or 6 in for some lux lamps. You can just walk around and do your day like normal inside your house, while receiving the SAD light benefits.
Very clear and helpful video! I just purchased a lamp from Beurer. They are the lead in Europe I think. They actually state the distance in CM you need to be from the product to get 10.000 lux etc.
This is an amazing video! Honestly , you did such a great job reviewing this product. One of the best YT reviews I’ve ever seen.
This is such an informative video. As a science and facts and data geek, I needed this, thank you Greg! I have recently moved to a location by the Arctic circle and I have been considering getting one of these SAD lights, as we will soon go into total darkness out here. I have been doing lots of research and reading up on these lamps and honestly haven’t been totally convinced… This video has been by far the most comprehensive source of information. Personally, I have been looking at Beurer, which has been celebrated for its German engineering and also as it has been certified/approved as medical equipment. Would love to get you test one of their products. However after watching this video, I think that even my Newer stand lamp might be a good source of light for the circadian rhythm. Thank you so much for making this video!
Thank you!
I vaguely remember hearing that at least sunlight being received by not just the eyes, but all the rest of the body also moves the process of the circadian rhythm along (unscientific wording, but I'm trying to get the point across)... So I'm wondering if and how beneficial it can be to hold it at 6 inches, but not toward the face and eyes, but toward bare skin
There is research being done in this area, but we're in the early days. Longer wavelength (think red and infrared) light is going to be able to penetrate the skin further than blue/green/violet/ultraviolet, so personally I would stick with the SAD light as intended, but some sunshine here and there wouldn't hurt.
@@GregYeutterTheres a RUclips vid where a woman says that her led face mask helped her depression, as a side-effect. I'm tempted to buy one, but am worried about the effect of the red infrared and far infrared light effects on eyesight.(Perhaps closing the eyes would be enough to reduce this , but will it be as effective.) Do u have any thoughts on this ? Thanks for greatly informative vid.
God: Let there be Light
Me: How many Lux do I need?
All the lux
The Sun and the Son
Just discovered your channel. Very thorough and interesting. I'd love to see a review of the different SAD lamps and what your recommendation would be.
Thanks for this thorough video! There's so much positive fluff and lack of rigor when it comes to descriptions and reviews of these products, it was refreshing to see someone thoroughly look at both the product and the science behind it. Seeing every single therapy light say "10,000 lux" I was already like, anytime every single brand's type of product makes the same exact claim I'm instantly suspicious of its truthfulness and usefulness.
Thanks so much! You might also be interested in this video: Should We Use Screens at Night? ruclips.net/video/wK04m5BupIA/видео.html
The reference range for vitamin D is way too high. I was totally healthy despite my blood vitamin D levels being officially in the "deficient" range, but then I took a supplement against my better judgment and that gave me an unhealthily low platelet count.
Light therapy was recommended to me from a sleep doctor, this was a lot of useful info. Thanks!
1. Thank you for including TM-30 data. This is the best tool we have today for analyzing and representing a light source's colour quality.
2. Thank you for making the distinction between lumens and lux. Using lux to describe the performance of a light source would be like using km/h to describe the performance of a car instead of horsepower.
3. Thank you for referencing the WELL Building Standard and Melanopic Ratio. Understanding Melanopic Ratio is the key to circadian lighting design.
4. Thank you for for demonstrating the area of the retina where the intrinsically photoreceptive ganglion cells actually are present. It's important to make sure a light source is above the horizon in order for the light to be received by the ipRGCs.
Great job on this video!
Thank you!!
Saw that 999... so I just became your 1000th subscriber :) great video, great scientific approach that was surprisingly easy to follow.
Thank you! More cool lighting stuff on the way.
into: "shortest days of the year"; shows 9 hrs.... Cries in Scandinavia..
This is amazing, verilux should hire you! :^)
they are paying him for this review.
I took vitamin D3 last winter, and was doing much better without any light. If you are in Western, PA - its usually cloudy there - and especially in the winter - even more cloudy - ALL THE TIME. Should help those cases. But I would try vitamin D3 though in any case.
But if you need a 10,000 lumens to combat SAD that is truly a 25,000 lux lamp.
Also, I noticed that grow lamps emit light in the blue range of 468 nanometers. So check into that instead of buying an expensive SAD light. A grow light can also help your plants 😊
Great video. I didn't expect to watch all l the way through. Does anyone know if Verilux is still using the "cheap" led or if they are using a better quality led to fill in the cyan gap?
I really like the studio light idea. Do you have any recommendations for one to achieve the desired stimulation? Perhaps something wall mountable. Cheers - great video!
Thank you for this video, it helped a lot. I'll put it on a monitor arm to aim it from above.
My psychiatrist recommended one for my treatment-resistant depression and I was worried I would get an ineffective one. At this point, I would be willing to put it directly onto my eyeball if it could help.
I'm looking to buy a lamp and this was so helpful to know what to look out for!
how come it's 0.84 ratio if there is such a dip down exactly at ~480nm🤔
Thank you so much for making this. Still helping folks 2 years later. 😊
Thank you!
Thanks for making this video. My psychiatrist gave me a packet with a ton of info on this, and you hit the nail on the head. “Happy lights” are ineffective- basically just placebo. I use the BoxElite from Northern Light Technologies. It is 12x15 inches, warm light, and over 10,000 lux at 14 inches away
Angle of the light doesn’t stack up if you have astigmatism which makes light rays splay out rather than move normally if diagnosed you may have glasses to help direct the light or even contact lenses but undiagnosed and there may be a problem with that and many don’t realise there headaches and migraines and eye strain is actually because of astigmatism (rugby ball eye shape rather than round)
669 subscribers! can't wait till your at 699 😄
Keep on producing great content brother
I really appreciate your inclusion of the melanopic study. I find the light barely tolerable at the recommended desk positioning. However, propped on an apple box on my desk (an unattractive, but useful hack), it just feels like a bright sunny morning. This is how I'll be using the product going forward. Thx!
The source of light doesn't need to be above the eye. It's enough if it is above the line of sight! If we look forward to a screen, a lamp on the table is below our line of sight and won't affect our sensors (then we would need a wall mount). BUT, if we read a book on a table, a lamp on the table will already be above our line of sight and the light will hit our sensors. This might be a reason, why these lamps seem to work for some people and won't for others.
Still a good video even in 2023, great job! Funnily enough I was researching key lights and how they would compare to something that is supposedly designed for light therapy and you confirmed my suspicions, thank you. I'm looking at the Neewer 15.5" Streaming Key Light and it seems like it would be a good fit for light therapy.
Thank you!
What qualities make you think it's a good fit for light therapy? I don't see a graph of the amount of light it puts out at different color temperatures. Did you end up going with this?
@@noahlschneider A few factors would make a key light a good fit for light therapy - brightness, color temperature and full spectrum light. Lighting used for photography has a CRI rating, take a look at this description of CRI relating to sunlight - "The most common measure of color rendering is the Color Rendering Index (CRI). Sunlight shows the true colors of an object and, therefore, has a perfect CRI of 100. It's the natural light standard against which all other light sources are compared when calculating CRI."
Based on that, I think a key light with adequate brightness, in the correct color temperature range and with a high CRI rating would be a good fit but as you mentioned you'd want to be sure you're getting adequate lumens at the correct color temperature. I haven't got around to testing this theory personally.
Just find a full spectrum grow light. Thats what your missing in winter. If its great for growing plants then its also what your body needs.
LUX is measured light per square meter
Lumen is the output of the LED
I own a led business for 10+ years and thats my knowledge on it
I live in Alaska and where in December through February the sun rises around 11am and its set by 3pm and totally dark again. I rely on Verilux Happy Lamp. I also take Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol). I spend a lot of time outdoors, but it is complete darkness. I turn it on for a half hour while I eat breakfast, take a shower and go to work. I go to work in the dark, I come home in the dark. I work in a psychiatric hospital and I can tell you that pretty much all our patients have SAD. I was skeptical when I first purchased it, but it did make a huge difference. It also does not got hot. I place it at the 2 o'clock position. Its also good for resetting your sleep if you are a day sleeper, turn it on in the beginning of your day. Thank you for the great video.
Glad it works for you!
Just curious, you've done the tests on the HappyLight, can you provide us with the same info you had trouble getting from Verilux? That is, with the studio setup: what distance is optimal, what light settings (Kelvins, lumens, etc)? I guess it won't be the same between different gear, but it would be nice to understand how to actually use products you linked, especially since the use is experimental, I doubt there will be many resources?
I get seasonal effective disorder from sunlight but there's no way to make it look rainy outside.
As with other comments, I also stumbled upon this, and found this extremely informative.
Thank you!!
Glad I could help!
this is a next level review!! thanks boss
Because the SAD has a very 'early peak' in the spectrum regarding blue light or UV-light. Is there a chance that a SAD light is harmful for the eyes, and how can one find out? I just bought one this week, but I'm a bit weary of the type of light. Thank you for the very informative video btw!
Is ur lightbox UV free, and full spectrum?
They really need to pay you for this great video, would have never bought their product if I had not come across this video. You did a great job, great information and explanation for none nerds (thank God for nerds).
I love the amount of simplified science that you put into this video. Thank you very much for this
Thank you!
You omitted the main part about light therapy which is really important. Melatonin, serotonin, kortosol... You cannot use this throughout the day, as you said from 9 to 13. It has to be used only in the morning not later than 8 a.m. Why? You have to stop melatonin production and increase cortisol. So timing is really important here since it's crucial for adjusting circadian rhythm which is some kind of inner clock of our body.
You can use it intermittently throughout the day
Thank you so much for this incredible review! I would love to see more reviews for other therapy lights and alarm clocks!
Is there any reason to choose their LED option over the fluorescent?
Thank you for this, so helpful! I was wondering if you had learned about the 'warm light' setting that they have on the lights now - you can choose between "warm white" and "day light." Warm white is much nice on the eye, but I wondered if it impacted the MP ratio or the melanopic lux you get.
This is the kind of detailed info I was looking for - thanks!
Question: I just bought a Miroco light. I know you are not supposed to stare directly into the light, but is it possible to do damage to your eyes with the light on and eyes closed? Just seems crazy bright and want to make sure I’m not doing longer term damage. I put the light source directly in front of me and about 2 feet away. Thanks!
This video was very informative, loved it. I do have a question though that maybe you can answer, would LED lightbulbs in your house have the same effect or are they nowhere near as intense a the lightbox source?
Thanks! The answer would be: it depends.
First, the bulbs will be more effective if they are high-blue (think "daylight" bulbs over "soft white" or "warm white" bulbs). However, warmer bulbs may be more comfortable over long durations-you just need a longer exposure.
Second, it depends on how bright they are. The closer you are to the light, or the brighter the light is, the more effective it will be.
But just like the HappyLight, I wouldn't put the thing less than 2 feet from your face. If you have a quite-bright, but not overbearing light source a few feet away, and if you sit by it for a few hours, that should be enough.
Running and once a week on a sunbed in the winter keeps me sane
Greg amazing video! Would be sweet if you did an updated study on today's happylights!
Hey, not much has changed as far as I can tell.
@@GregYeutter The reason I ask is because I just got one of their desk lamp 2 in one Happy light versions and the chipset looks completely updated in comparison to my gf's luxe flat panel style. The max britghness is higher on it for sure and there are now 7 increments of brigthness. Would be amazing if you did a review on one! (Can always return to amazon after done review :p)
@@federere2142 Yeah, I get that it's slightly improved in terms of brightness levels etc. But overall pretty similar in terms of what to expect and how to use it. I'm pretty unhappy with any of the SAD lights on the market, and we're working something better. You can find out when we release that by signing up for the newsletter at bedtimebulb.com
This was a truly informative and interesting video. I was engaged the entire time and learnt a lot. Really appreciate your in depth analysis of the product.
Thank you!
wowww you deserve a lot more likes for this video, very good research!
Thanks so much!
Any info about the finnish brand "Innolux" and their medical SAD light products?
this was a really good video for a laymen and it sifts through all the paid reviews which im thankful for. the winter at the end of COVID im sure these things will blow up, i know i bought one
Thanks so much! I have another video related to this topic premiering in a few minutes: Do SAD Lamps Stimulate Vitamin D Production? ruclips.net/video/MQv1N7iJCM8/видео.html
After watching your video and doing some research I ordered the yeelight pro because it was the only lamp I found that fulfills all requirements, thanks a lot.
Can we not just use a few regular bright 11 watt LED bulbs instead of spending money on the light boxes ?
This is actually the first time I've heard of melanopic light. Very informative. I only had time to skim around the video; what I'm looking to get is something that will stimulate Vitamin D absorption. Is UV needed for that? Or can a HappyLight or other Verilux product help with that? Would love to get your knowledge on that subject.
Hi Greg, I'm just 1/3 of the way through your video and having to pause to go do stuff. I know its 3 years since uploading but I was just wondering if you could recommend me a genuine and effective SAD light, as I've been diagnosed with SAD and as its getting into shorter days here in the UK id really appreciate it. I have no budget limit, just would like a solution to this shit, its dark and gloomy too much here right now lol. Also is there a difference in wake up lights vs SAD lights? Sorry for the questions but its all new to me and so I'm beginning research, but you're clearly extremely knowledgeable so I'd appreciate any help 😊
P.s. I don't struggle with getting to sleep/staying asleep (I sleep too much if anything)
Excellent video! Thank you for doing your research and sharing the knowledge!
⚠ For those asking, I unfortunately can't provide product recommendations for specific SAD lamps. I am frankly disappointed by what's on the market, and we're working on something way better. To be the first to know when it launches, please sign up for the Restful/Bedtime Bulb newsletter: bedtimebulb.com/newsletter-signup
☀️ Vitamin D deficiency is common, especially in the winter months. In this follow-up video, I'll show you exactly why SAD therapy lights won't help with Vitamin D, and what you can do instead: ruclips.net/video/MQv1N7iJCM8/видео.html
💡 Should Edison, Swan, or someone else get credit for inventing the light bulb? This video explores the 19th-century development of this world-changing technology: ruclips.net/video/nfe-iQBUOjA/видео.html
@thecloudboundsound Any of them are probably fine. At least from the Verilux brand, they are all quite similar. Some of the higher-end models have more features, but those aren't really necessary.
@thecloudboundsound I think the fluorescent will work just fine for you. Best of luck.
So it’s been years since this video, has your opinion changed since than about SAD lamps? Is there any recommendations now? I really struggle with my insomnia for years and it triggers my ADHD even more than usual. But when we have sunny morning (England so quite rare thing) I sleep like a baby at night! It was such a shock for me how directly it impacts my sleeping so I try to find a lamp or solution to not just hope and pray the next morning ah e some sunshine 😅
Great job man. Most thorough review I've seen👍
Thanks so much!
Hi Greg, thanks for the great video. I learned a tone. I am trying to find the 6500k Enhanced-spectrum LEd that draws the curve in your video at 19:26. Could you let me know what that product is?
This video answered me every single doubt that I have of the subject. Thank you!!!
How Do the blue light units work or alter your findings? I have a Philips Golight unit which only produces blue light - the marketing info is that by purely displaying blue light the unit does not need to be so bright so the user still gets the same (or more) of the required blue light rather than the eyes having to filter the blue light from the total spectrum of full spectrum light. I think mine is around 200 lux. It does seem to help and certainly no where near produces as much glare as the full spectrum (white) lights like the one you review here. thanks
This man is so good looking and calming I don't remember a thing he said
I bought a visor one and it’s easier to use. The sit by the lamp doesn’t work for me.
Do you still recommend the Verilux? Any thoughts on Northern Light Technologies sad lamps? They are much more expensive but have a floor lamp and desk lamp you can position above you.