Wellness Room Light Box: Information and Referral

General Information

Most people use light boxes as a source of bright light during the fall and winter months. Some people use them on overcast days at any time of year, or when their schedules or surroundings do not allow much exposure to natural sunlight. If you are not used to a bright light box, it is better to gradually get used to the light’s brightness. During initial sessions less light intensity and time duration is better than more. We recommend starting light therapy by staying approximately 40 inches from the light for 30 minutes.

Over the course of a week you can move closer to the light until you are about 23 inches (you won’t ever need to get closer than this) from the light for 30 minutes. You can read or eat while sitting under the lights, but your eyes must be open for the effect to occur. You cannot sleep during your light exposure! You should NOT stare directly at the lights. It is recommended that you start light therapy in the early morning, as soon as possible after awakening.

Response usually starts in a few days, and by two weeks the symptoms should be definitely improving. Most people need to continue light therapy throughout the winter until the springtime. When light therapy is stopped symptoms do not usually reappear for a few days, so most people can stop the treatment for one or two days without much problem (e.g. for the weekend).

When there is a good response to light therapy, some patients like to experiment with the timing and duration of daily light exposure, e.g. by reducing the daily exposure to 15 minutes, or using the light at a more convenient time of the day (e.g. 3:00pm). We suggest making one change at a time, for 2 weeks. If symptoms start returning, go back to the original dosing schedule.

Possible Risks and Side Effects

Some people experience mild headaches, nausea, dizziness, or eye strain when using the lights. These symptoms usually occur at the beginning of treatment, and get better in a few days. Otherwise, they can be relieved by reducing the daily exposure time, or by sitting slightly farther away from the lights. There are no reported harmful effects on the eyes with light therapy as described, but the long-term effects have not yet been studied. If you have eye problems (e.g. retinal disease, cataracts, or diabetes), or worries about eye damage, please see your doctor.

Occasionally people report feeling irritable, or euphoric, or being “too high” when treated with light therapy. If this happens, the treatment should be stopped and you should contact your primary care provider. People with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) are not recommended to use light therapy.

Scheduling Light Box Appointments

The Counseling, Accessibility, and Psychological Services (CAPS) Administrative Assistant will schedule appointments Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. To get on the schedule for light box therapy, please call CAPS at (810) 762-3456 and inform the Administrative Assistant that you have received a referral for light box therapy from your Primary Care Physician. The Administrative Assistant will work with you to set a schedule. Ideally, you would spend 30 minutes in front of the light box 5 days per week throughout the winter.

During light therapy, you should keep to a regular sleep schedule (going to sleep and waking up at regular times, for example, 11:00pm to 7:00am).

I have read and understand the instructions. I will follow up with my referral source as necessary.

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