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Buyer's Guide Specials 10,000 Lux Bright Lights & Accessories Other Bright Light Products Dawn/Dusk Simulators Books Full Spectrum Lighting for Home & Office SunPipes International Products |
Before making a rental or purchase decision on a bright light therapy product, please do your homework carefully. This decision impacts your health as well as your wallet, so please don't make a hasty decision, purchasing the cheapest thing you find without considering other factors. If you do, you might find that the price you paid was too high!
The Sunbox Company believes there are several issues more important than money when making this decision. This Buyer's Guide will give you all the light box information you need and discuss these issues in full detail in the sections below.
- Safety
- Effectiveness
- Comfort
- Warranty
- Return Policy
- Shipping Information
- Renting Vs. Purchasing
- Insurance Coverage
- Fact Vs. Fiction
Making the decision to invest in a light box overcomes a major procrastination obstacle for many people, and once they've placed the order, they want to get the product yesterday. While this is impossible, of course, getting the order processed and en route promptly should not be. Shipping options to expedite your order are discussed below.
For those unsure of whether a light box will be helpful for them, the idea of renting one rather than purchasing may seem attractive - this approach has its advantages and disadvantages, which are discussed below. You may find it helpful to contact your health insurance company before proceeding - sometimes insurance policies cover light box purchases, if you follow the proper procedures. It's worth a call to find out - some of our customers have gotten full coverage.
The last topic in this Buyer's Guide is our "Fact Vs. Fiction" section, where we debunk many of the myths surrounding the use of bright light products, and the inaccuracies promoted by unscrupulous companies.
While many light box companies have their customers' best interests at heart, there are many others that only care about the bottom line: separating you from your money. Be careful and do you homework to make sure that any company you choose to do business with is a reputable one.
Return to TopSAFETY
Several safety components should be incorporated into any light therapy device you use. These are (1) the absence of UV wavelengths, (2) a proper diffusing screen, and (3) UL listing.
- Ultraviolet (UV) Wavelengths
UV wavelengths are not necessary components for the effectiveness of light therapy products. In small amounts (that is, less than 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight per day), UV can be beneficial - it helps your skin produce vitamin D, which helps with calcium absorption. However, in larger amounts, we know UV is harmful. These wavelengths have been implicated for many years in such conditions as the formation of cataracts, skin cancer, and premature aging of the skin. Most people get enough environmental UV exposure per day just going to and from work, without having to expose themselves to any more of it. For this reason, and because of the known harmful effects of UV, researchers in the field of bright light treatment are unanimous in their recommendation of UV-free light therapy equipment.
The SunBox Company's light boxes have all been tested for UV emissions by an independent laboratory, which has concluded that they are UV-free. We have the reports available upon request.
- Diffusing Screen
The acrylic diffuser that is standard in most - but not all - commercially available light boxes spreads the light evenly across the surface of the unit. This makes the light more comfortable for your eyes and protects them from light brighter than 10,000 lux, the highest amount of light that's ever been tested in clinical studies, for safety and efficacy. Using a unit that does not have a diffuser on it could expose your eyes to "pinpoints" of light that could pose a hazard.
In addition to spreading the light evenly over the light box surface, the diffuser also absorbs the UV wavelengths that are emitted by the bulbs (all bulbs emit UV light to some degree). Without a diffuser, you are not protected from the potentially harmful effects of UV emissions.
The only case of eye damage with bright light therapy of which we are aware occurred in a man who had built his own light box. Unfortunately, he attempted to save money by omitting the diffusing screen, and suffered retinal damage from using his homemade light box.
- UL Listing
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent group that tests and certifies products for consumer safety in the United States. For an electronic product to be listed by UL, it must undergo stringent testing that ensures that it is electrically safe for home use, and it must be built according to exacting standards.
Some manufacturers state that their products have "UL Listed Components." This is a very misleading statement, since electrical components available to U.S. manufacturers must be UL Listed in order to be available for sale. That is, all electrical components used in U.S. manufacturing are UL Listed. The absence of a UL listing on a light therapy device indicates one of two things: either the manufacturer is unwilling to spend the money each year to have their products evaluated, or their product does not pass UL's strict guidelines. In either case, you cannot be assured of the electrical safety of such products.
Return to TopEFFECTIVENESS
There are four important factors when considering the effectiveness of a light box: (1) Has the product been clinically tested? (2) Does it provide 10,000 lux of light, a brightness equivalent to being outside on a clear spring day shortly after sunrise? (3) Does it deliver the light in a downward angle? and (4) Is the light diffused evenly over the entire surface of the lamp?
- Clinical Testing
As mentioned elsewhere [see Company Profile under Learn About Us], The SunBox Company has been supplying light boxes to the National Institute of Mental Health since 1984. Since then, we've been the exclusive supplier of these devices to NIMH.
Our light boxes have also been used in clinical studies at research centers worldwide, including: Rush Presbyterian Hospital at St. Luke's Medical Center, Stanford University, Yale University, John's Hopkins University, University of British Columbia (Canada), University of California-San Diego, University of Alberta (Canada), Korea University (Korea), University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinic, SUNY-Syracuse, University of Washington, Northwestern University, Uniformed Health Services, and NASA.
- 10,000 Lux Brightness
Since the early 1980s, bright light therapy has come a long way. Initial studies had patients using light boxes that delivered 2,500 lux of light (about 5-10 times brighter than a well lit office) at a specific distance, approximately 30 inches from the surface of the light box. The patients were instructed to use the light boxes for 2-4 hours daily.
In 1990, a study was published which showed that 10,000 lux delivered for a much shorter duration produces similar results. Since then, numerous other studies have replicated this finding, and 10,000 lux has become the standard for light therapy equipment. It decreases treatment time to usually under a half hour per day, which, researchers believe, increases compliance and therefore efficacy - after all, it's much easier for busy people (and we're all busy these days!) to plan to sit still for 20-30 minutes each day, instead of 2-4 hours.
We are unaware of any research that supports the use of light brighter than 10,000 lux for bright light treatment, either in terms of efficacy or safety.
- Downward Angle
The downward angle recommended by researchers and incorporated into most SunBox designs allows more light to enter your eyes, increasing the effectiveness of the light box (vs. upright units). As a bonus, the apparent brightness is decreased, which makes it more comfortable to use by reducing glare.
- Diffusion
The acrylic diffuser is an important safety measure, as mentioned above, by filtering out UV rays. It also spreads the light out over the surface of the fixture, removing any "bright" and "dark" spots, creating an even field of light. This increases efficacy, as it won't matter whether your eyes are moved 1 inch to the left over a dark spot, or 1 inch down over a bright spot - the light intensity will be even in front of any part of the light's surface.
Return to TopCOMFORT
We've incorporated several important features into our light boxes designed to increase user comfort. These include a downward angle, using full spectrum light, and high quality electronic ballasts.
- Downward Angle
The downward angle that researchers recommend for increasing light delivery to the eye and improving efficacy also increases user comfort. Rather than shining the light into your eyes from an upright position, much like the lights of oncoming headlights when you're driving at night, the tilted angle allows the light to enter indirectly through your peripheral vision. This does not in any way diminish the light reaching your retina; rather, it spreads it over a larger part of your eye. This reduces the apparent brightness of the unit, decreases glare, and makes it much more comfortable to use. Several SunBox designs incorporate this feature into their design.
- Full Spectrum Light
The term "full spectrum" is a loosely defined term in the lighting industry. Generally, it refers to light that has a color temperature of between 5,000-6,500° Kelvin. It may, but does not necessarily, include the UV wavelengths - again, the term is loosely defined, and is used differently by different lighting companies. At The SunBox Company, we use the term to mean the visible portion of the spectrum, without the UV wavelengths.
Full spectrum light, regardless of whether it contains UV, appears whiter than other types of artificial light - cool white, warm white, broad spectrum - as it contains a greater distribution of colors within the visible spectrum (White light is composed of all the different colors of the spectrum). Cool white bulbs, for example, appear yellow-orange when compared with full spectrum bulbs, because they are significantly deficient in the blue-green part of the spectrum.
All SunBox light boxes use bulbs that emit color temperatures of 5,000-5,500° Kelvin. As stated in the Safety section above, we eliminate the UV wavelengths from our light boxes with the acrylic diffuser.
- High Quality Electronic Ballasts
We're all familiar with the distinct hum and the annoying flicker of fluorescent fixtures. Generally, fixtures that emit this hum and that flicker have older, magnetic ballasts. Higher quality electronic ballasts, such as the ones that have been standard in all SunBox light boxes for several years, reduce the hum and the flicker associated with fluorescent fixtures.
Return to TopWARRANTY
The warranty a company offers on their products is a pretty good indication of how long the product should be expected to last. Everyone knows someone who made a major investment in a product, only to have it break down within a week after the warranty period expired!
Below is our warranty on the products we sell, by category:
- SunBox Light Boxes:
We warrant to the original purchaser that the SunBox light unit is to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for the lifetime of the product. Our entire liability and your exclusive remedy as to the unit(s) shall be the repair or replacement of the unit at our option.
Simply return the unit to us prepaid for repair, and we will return the unit to you at our cost. If failure of the unit has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication, we shall have no responsibility to replace or repair it. The Product Warranty Registration form should be returned to initiate the warranty. The fluorescent tubes within the light box are guaranteed for two years from date of purchase. Just contact us for free replacement.
- Fluorescent Lamps
The SunBox Company guarantees its fluorescent tubes for two years from date of purchase against failure. Contact us for free replacement.
- Incandescent Bulbs
The SunBox Company guarantees its incandescent bulbs for 90 days from date of purchase against failure. Contact us for free replacement.
- All other products sold by The SunBox Company
All other products sold by The SunBox Company are covered by the respective manufacturer's warranties, which vary by product. Contact us for more information about warranties for specific products.
Return to TopRETURN POLICY
Our products are not for everyone, and we realize that many of our products represent a considerable financial investment for a lot of people. If our products don't help you, we don't want you to be stuck with them: we want you to return them for a refund. This benefits you (no risk), and benefits us (you might know someone else who might benefit from our products, and word-of-mouth advertising from a satisfied customer is worth much more than traditional advertising). Our products are meant to be used, so we want all our products to find homes with people who will enjoy and benefit from them.
All products purchased from The SunBox Company may be returned within 30 days from date of delivery for a full refund if returned in good condition. We ask that you keep the original shipping materials to reuse in case of return, as this is the best way to ensure that the unit will not be damaged in transit back to us.
From time to time, additional time is necessary to determine whether one of our products will be helpful to you or not. If this is the case, please contact us to discuss the situation; the 30 day return policy is not set in stone, and we are happy to make reasonable exceptions to this policy.
Return to TopSHIPPING INFORMATION
Unlike some of our competitors, who may take up to 8 weeks to ship orders, we ship within days of receiving your completed order. In fact, most of our orders ship the same business day. Our standard shipping method is UPS Ground for the lower 48 (U.S.) states, and U.S. Mail to Alaska and Canada.
If you're in a rush to get your order, most orders can be shipped by expedited methods, for an additional fee.
We do ship worldwide, but do not have standardized fees for international shipping charges. Therefore, if you are placing an order to be shipped outside the U.S.A. or Canada, we will contact several carriers to obtain a quote before shipping your order. You will need to provide the following information before we can obtain the quote:
- complete delivery address, including recipient's name
- daytime telephone number of the recipient (include country & city codes, if applicable)
- which product(s) are to be ordered
- how & when it would be convenient for us to contact you with a quote (our preferred method is by e-mail, so we don't have to worry about time-zones)
Occasionally, our products arrive in damaged condition, despite our best packaging efforts (most damage occurs in December, when the carriers are overwhelmed with Christmas packages). Should this happen to you, simply contact us as quickly as possible, and we'll do what we can to remedy the situation quickly and with as little inconvenience as possible.
Return to TopRENTING VS. PURCHASING
Generally speaking, it is more cost effective to purchase outright. However, in some cases, renting may be better for your individual circumstances - for example, if your health insurance company will cover the costs but requires that you rent the equipment before purchasing it.
Should you prefer to rent your light box, it must be for a minimum of one month. We require that you complete our Rental Form *, and the rental fees must be paid by major credit card. We will apply 50% of the monthly rental charge toward the purchase.
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Return to TopINSURANCE COVERAGE
Some of our customers have been reimbursed by their insurance companies, with coverage usually ranging from 50% to as much as 100% coverage. Many others have had no luck getting any coverage, even after many appeals.
The issue of insurance coverage is complicated for many reasons. First, insurance companies vary greatly in classifying various treatments. Second, they vary their coverage from one policyholder to another, based on how the individual policies are written.
To date, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated light therapy. Because of this, many insurance companies claim bright light treatment is experimental. However, many published studies support bright light treatment as a viable therapy, and in fact, it is the approved, mainstream treatment according to both the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association.
To determine whether your health insurance policy covers light therapy devices, you will need to contact your insurance company directly and inquire. If they say that they will (or even 'may') cover a SunBox purchase, make sure you GET IT IN WRITING, and that you fully understand their procedure(s). Sometimes a claim is denied because our customer was overenthusiastic and ordered the product before obtaining either a prescription from their health professional (not required for purchase but may be required for the reimbursement claim) or the proper pre-approval from their insurance company. Unfortunately, you need to play by your insurance company's rules.
If you receive a noncommittal response and decide to take a chance on receiving reimbursement, you'll probably want to have your doctor write a letter on your behalf that resembles the following sample letter:
For Insurance Company Reimbursement
|
To whom it may concern: (Insurance carrier)
This is to certify that (patient's name) is a patient of mine. (S)he is being treated for recurrent major depressions with a seasonal pattern. Referral to "seasonal patterns of depression" has been included in the most recent revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV). Phototherapy is no longer considered experimental, but is a mainstream type of psychiatric treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). According to the December 8, 1993 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), "For many patients with SAD, light therapy should be regarded as a first-line treatment, given its high success and acceptance rate" (Vol. 270, No. 22, pages 2717-2720). In 1989, the American Psychiatric Association's Task Force on Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders (Vol. 3, pages 1890-1896, A.P.A. Press), recommended light therapy as treatment for the range of clinical depression diagnoses including:
In order to administer phototherapy adequately, a bright light unit is required. In (patient's name)'s case, the use of the bright light unit should be regarded as a medical necessity and may be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. These procedures conform to April 1993 U.S. Public Health Service-Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines for management of this disorder.
Sincerely,
(Prescribing doctor's signature)
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If your claim is denied, it sometimes helps to have your doctor send a follow-up letter like the one that follows, and enclose with it several study reprints that support the efficacy of light therapy:
For Insurance Company Reimbursement
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Dear Sir/Madam:
I regret to see that you have rejected (patient's name)'s claim for a light fixture. Once again, I respectfully suggest that light therapy is not experimental. I refer you to a 1993 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association [1], discussing the successful treatment of seasonal affective disorder with light therapy, as well as to an article in Primary Psychiatry [2], explaining to psychiatrists how to go about using light therapy. The former of these journals is the major publication of a prestigious medical organization, and the latter is a journal distributed to general psychiatrists, keeping them up to date with new developments in psychiatry. While I understand that there has been some controversy about light therapy in the past, as evidenced by a 1996 article in The Wall Street Journal [3] suggesting that light therapy may not be effective, this controversy has now been resolved to the satisfaction of all published researchers in the SAD and light therapy field. The new consensus is reflected in a subsequent 1998 article, also in The Wall Street Journal [4] in which this mainstream publication completely reversed its earlier skeptical stance and reported on the unanimity in the field as to the efficacy of this treatment. I am aware that insurance companies are looking to cut costs wherever possible, but I would like to respectfully point out to you once again that a light fixture is a one-time expense that pays for itself many times over in the form of fewer doctor's visits, laboratory tests, and costly medications. I trust that this letter will suffice to enable (patient's name) to receive reimbursement for her legitimate medical claim. Sincerely,
(Prescribing doctor's signature)
References: [1] Rosenthal, NE (1993). Diagnosis and treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association, 270(22), 2717-2720. [2] Rosenthal, NE (1994) Light therapy: theory and practice. Primary Psychiatry, Premier issue: 31-33. [3] More people warm to simulated sunlight: but scientists doubt it cures winter blues. The Wall Street Journal, March 6, 1996, p. B1. [4] New light on therapy for winter depression. The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 1997, p. B1. |
If we can do anything to help you with your claim, please contact us.
Return to TopFACT VS. FICTION:
Myths surrounding light therapy, and the untruthful statements some other companies make.
There are a lot of myths regarding light therapy that have been floating around for many years. There are also a lot of companies that don't care about selling you a quality product that meets your individual needs and are willing to bend (or even break) the truth to try to separate you from your money.
Here we'll examine each of these myths and relate truthful information, based upon clinical evidence, and reveal the outright falsehoods perpetuated by other companies.
- Myth #1:
My doctor told me all I need to do is to replace all my existing light bulbs with full spectrum bulbs and that will alleviate my SAD symptoms.
Why this might sound plausible: SAD appears when people are not exposed to enough environmental sunlight. Sunlight has an even color distribution, which full spectrum lighting comes close to replicating. The initial studies on light therapy for SAD used full spectrum light fixtures.
The truth: The truth is that researchers have determined that lighting below 2,500 lux simply isn't bright enough to affect brain chemistry to the degree necessary to allow for the alleviation of SAD symptoms. Most homes have lighting below 500 lux, and well-lit offices generally have light levels between 500-700 lux. Replacing the bulbs in your existing fixtures with full spectrum bulbs does nothing to increase the light output; a 40-watt full spectrum fluorescent tube puts out the same amount of light as a 40-watt cool white fluorescent. Shop lights you'd get at your local hardware store or lighting store are designed to produce enough light to allow you to see what you're doing, not enough to affect brain chemistry. For that, special light fixtures, designed for increased light output, are necessary.
- Myth #2:
All light boxes that use full spectrum light emit harmful UV rays.
Why this might sound plausible: Some lighting companies use the term "full spectrum" to include the ultraviolet wavelengths.
The Truth: The term "full spectrum" is a loosely-defined term, used differently by different companies within the lighting industry, but it always means light with a color temperature of at least 5,000° Kelvin. When using this term, some companies include the ultraviolet wavelengths, while others, such as the SunBox Company, use it to mean the full visible part of the spectrum, which does not include the invisible UV wavelengths. Our full spectrum light boxes have an acrylic diffuser which eliminates UV wavelengths from being emitted (independent lab report available upon request).
- Myth #3:
The larger the light box, the more effective it is.
Why this might sound plausible: A larger light box will "bathe" you in a field of light, which gives the illusion of more light reaching you.
The Truth: We are unaware of any clinical evidence that a large light box is any more effective than a smaller box producing the same brightness and used properly. While a larger light box allows you some freedom of movement while using it (you can move from side to side during your light session and receive the same intensity of light in either position), this could be a potential drawback: if you think you can change your position during your light session, you might move further from it or closer to it, or might move too far to either side, all of which will change the light levels reaching your eyes, resulting in inconsistent light exposure during the session.
- Myth #4:
If a light box is not shielded for electromagnetic radiation, it isn't safe.
Why this might sound plausible: There's been a lot of speculation about the potential harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation. Years ago, there was concern among people living near power lines, and recently, there's been a scare about cell phones causing brain cancer. Magnetic ballasts in fluorescent fixtures are known to produce some electromagnetic radiation.
The Truth: We are unaware of any clinical evidence of the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). Besides, while older fluorescent fixtures with magnetic ballasts produce electromagnetic radiation in small amounts, the same is not true for current fixtures that use electronic ballasts. Even with magnetic ballasts, the level of electromagnetic radiation is insignificant in a properly diffused light fixture at the distance necessary to receive the correct amount of light.
- Myth #5:
A parabolic reflector is necessary to produce the proper amount of light in a light box.
Why this might sound plausible: A reflector does increase light output by reflecting light from the back of the bulb out through the front of the light box.
The Truth: Using a parabolic reflector to increase light output is actually an inexpensive shortcut, not the optimal solution. It minimizes the number of bulbs necessary to produce higher intensities of light. The drawback of reflectors, though, is that the reflected light is dimmer than the direct light, resulting in uneven light distribution on the light box surface. This means there will be bright and dim spots, so moving your eyes even an inch in any direction could significantly impact the amount of light received by your eyes.
- Myth #6:
If a light box that produces 10,000 lux gives results in 15-30 minutes per day, I can cut my treatment time in half by using a light box that produces 20,000 lux.
Why this might sound plausible: Research has shown that for intensities between 2,500 lux and 10,000 lux, double the intensity generally equates to half the treatment time.
The Truth: Intensities higher than 10,000 lux have not been studied for safety or efficacy. There is no clinical evidence that intensities higher than 10,000 lux are safe, so if the health of your eyes and your skin is at all important to you, you should carefully weigh the signficant risks to your health of using untested technology for the sake of reclaiming a mere 10-15 minutes each day.
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The SunBox Company | 19217 Orbit Drive | Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879-4149
Toll Free: 1.800.548.3968 International: 1.301.869.5980 | Email: info@sunbox.com