Light box comparison

Warning: Numerous light therapy companies advertise comparison charts to show their product's superiority. Unfortunately, comparison charts are almost always subjective, and listed specifications are often irrelevant or not accepted by the research community. The following comparison chart lists which items are important, which are not essential and which are marketing gimmicks.

Recognized measures for light therapy performance ^{1 2}

Companies to avoid

As a general rule, you should avoid companies that promote "Non-essential" or "Not accepted" features as necessary components for successful or safe light therapy. The National Lighting Product Information Program, Lighting Research Center reports that these features are used as 'marketing gimmicks' and have no relevance to effective light therapy.²⁰

Find out more about why we list Kelvin and CRI Values for our products »

Society for light treatment and biological rhythms

In addition, the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms (SLTBR, the medical research body), has received several documented complaints from researchers and manufacturers concerning false claims, ineffectiveness and safety of several 'light box companies,' particularly from companies who market mainly via the Internet.

In 2000, a survey of light therapy companies showed that most non-research affiliated companies grossly exaggerated their product's performance, while some openly advocated the use of UV light to treat Winter Blues. Unfortunately no policing organization regulates the production and sale of light therapy equipment. Ineffective equipment can cause patients to turn to antidepressants and lead physicians to become skeptical about light therapy's effectiveness. Unsafe equipment can lead to ocular damage. In order to avoid this problem, the potential light therapy user should consider companies, which support and participate in published light therapy studies.