Carex Day-Light Sky Bright Sunlight Therapy Lamp, 10000 LUX Therapy Lamp at 12 Inches, LED Bright White Light with Adjustable Height and Brightness Levels for Mood

Date Purchased: 12/1/2015Date Received: 12/4/2015In-Use Date: 12/6/2015Review Type: Standard Amazon PriceThe Need-------------For years I've had pretty bad cases of what was sometimes called "winter blues" but is now recognized to be Seasonal Affect Disorder. It started (or was noticed) when I was a fairly young kid and continues to this day. I've tried many things over the years but recently I had a distant relative come to visit and it turns out she also has dealt with this. She told me that she had been using light therapy for the last 2 years and that it had made a tremendous impact in her mood and energy levels. I've looked in to light therapy many times before but whenever I went looking for a light it always seemed like it was every quack and con-man offering one and never anything that resembled respected medical and scientific information.This time, after talking with her and now feeling that at least in theory the therapy was valid, I was determined to understand more about these lights and what was really behind them. Perhaps this time was also different because I had been dealing with coral and plant grow lights for a couple of years so now had a decent grasp on LUX, color ranges, wavelengths, etc. Whatever the reason, with this knowledge in hand this time it was clearer that when a lamp manufacturer or company was promoting their product with anything under 10k LUX and without specific testing of output, color temp and UV blocking as "light therapy" they were basically preying upon a mostly uninformed marketplace. Products that cost $50-$100 are simply not equivalent to professionally researched, built and tested products no matter how they try to market themselves.The Research-------------------After a good deal of research I decided upon the Carex Day-Light Sky unit. I preferred the non-clinical look of it compared to some of the other Carex models and other brands. As I intended to use this in my home office area, I liked being able to use it for a task-light when not being used for light therapy purposes. It was well reviewed by consumers and was noted in reliable research. It wasn't until I received the box that I became aware that the unit is built like a tank. As per some of the questions asked about the product, anyone thinking of suspending this light above their heads better have a good idea of what they are doing in mounting it due to the potential damage to your wall, light...and skull.I read through the manual and all online information I could find in order to get valid information about the use of the product. Contrary to a lot of the information suggested in the questions above and online in general the unit is intended be used 1) approximately 1 ft from your face 2) the light should be directly in front of you, not off to the side and 3) the light should be shining down from slightly above your eyes. The receptors that are most impacted by this light are along the lower portion of your eye socket so light that is entering your eye from or below horizontal will be less beneficial than if the light is used as the manufacturer suggests. This is why the unit is built as it is, with the light emitting from the panel sitting above your eye height and down at a slight angle towards you.The research behind light therapy shows that the intensity of the light is what has proven to be effective as light therapy, which is why the 10k LUX is so important. If you are receiving light that is less intense it simply does not have the same effect on your body. It should also be noted that light intensity follows the inverse square law. This means that when the the manufacturer suggests that you sit 1 ft from light, thinking that you can sit 2 ft away and still receive half the intensity is incorrect; at 2 ft away you are receiving 25% of the original light intensity. And that again takes you to a level of intensity that is unlikely to have much, if any, of the desired effect for S.A.D.The Effect--------------I started with 20 minutes per day for about the first week just to make sure there were no ill side-effects, especially with the wide variety of medications I am prescribed. As I did not notice anything of issue, I went up to 30 minutes. By this point I believed I was feeling some of the effects but couldn't be sure due to the mood issues from S.A.D. and/or a placebo effect. However by the end of the second week there was absolutely no doubt that the therapy was working. I undertook this therapy in December, usually one of the worst times of year for my condition, and for the first time in a number of years I actually managed to keep some momentum through December and in to this year. It's been about a decade since the last time that happened.In order to make sure that this was not due to something other than the light or that this would be a short-term effect I have waited to write a review. As we entered spring and the time change, I tapered off of the light usage as I was able to get more natural light. Now, 8 months from when I started using it, I can firmly state that this therapy not only helped me through winter but that due to my other health issues there are times I am unable to spend significant time in sunlight and a couple of doses from this light are enough to make a difference. I expect to resume more regular use of the light again as we head in to late fall and the time changes, providing less natural light exposure each day.Lastly, I mentioned that the product is built like a tank. This is a very well built product. No skimping on "lightweight" parts either in the physical build or as far as I can tell in the electronics that control the lighting. I see zero flicker. The lights come on and turn off instantly. There is no sound and only a little heat produced by the light. The arm and adjustments that hold the light have virtually zero play in them. I wish more products were built like this one.I give this product a hearty 5 five stars! I hope it can help you as much as it has helped me.Since I purchase most items on on-line. I rely heavily on the feedback of other people when making my own choices. Therefore I view leaving straightforward and useful reviews as a RESPONSIBILITY and take it quite seriously. I am NOT paid to give reviews, nor do I have ANY relationship with any seller. These are my own opinions, based on my own experiences and my own or a member of my household's use of this product. I hope you find this review helpful. If you agree, please click the YES below so that I know I have helped you. If I left out any information you could use for your own purchase decision please leave a comment and I will respond as quickly as possible. Thank you.

I am aware that I have been suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder for many years. Some years seem to be worse than others. This last summer I spent more time outside in the early morning hours than normal and I really got a feel for how beneficial that early morning bright light can be to ones mood and overall health and well-being. As the summer wore on and the days began to shorten, I began to notice very quickly the effect of decreased light. It soon became fall and every morning when I awoke and went for my early morning run or walk it was dark and just barely becoming light by the time I came home. I started feeling really strongly like I would benefit from one of these lights, so I began researching them. I deliberated for two or three weeks, and by this time I was really starting to feel markedly more depressed than I had been all summer. My mood had really changed in that short period of time.So, I decided that I had better get one of these things quickly. I was almost sold on one of the Phillips blue light models, but then when I looked into the research that the blue light can damage the eyes and just decided that it was not worth the risk. So, I eliminated that...now how do I choose from all of these models? Well, I happened upon the Day-light Sky and was impressed my the specifications. I went to the company's website and did a little more checking around and ultimately decided to give it a try, even though it was more expensive than many of the other models. I figured that if I didn't like it, I could return it.Well, it is now about five months later and I can confidently give the Day-Light Sky a 5-star rating.It is effective! I could tell a difference the very first day of use. I started using it in early September. I set it up on my kitchen table every night before bed. It is too large for me to keep set up all of the time so I store it in a closet during the day. The cord is detachable from the unit, so I just keep that plugged in and hidden underneath the table, so it is super-easy to take out at night and plug in. I have to admit that initially I was suprised by how large it is. I did read many of the reviews and the dimensions, but I wasn't really visualizing correctly how large it would be. Ultimately, it didn't make any difference to me, but I had to devise a way to store it because I live in a small home.It is important to set the unit up at the propper distance and angle. When I first started using it, I measured the distance from my face to the light just to get a feel for how to set it up. Now it is easy since I have been doing it every day.The light itself is not harsh. It is very bright, but not headache inducing bright. I rented a light box several years back and it was so bright that I would get headaches from it. This unit has a nice cover that seems to diffuse the brightness a bit.I use the light on the high setting for about 15-30 minutes. Sometimes I forget and get caught up reading something and go over the recommended time. This does not really seem to make much of a difference since I am using it so early in the morning. Many times I will switch over to the low setting after I have had it on high for 15-20 minutes. It is a really nice task light and I can see how it would be really good for crafters (kind of like a verilux crafters light but much larger).So far the light works perfectly. I would imagine that I will have to replace the bulbs at some point. It is very stable and has a substantial base...it won't tip over. It has really made an amazing difference in my mood this winter and I would highly, highly recommend this particular model to anyone who is interested in invesing in a really good light. I can now face fall and winter confidently because of this light. It sounds silly, I know...but it is true :)

Arrived broken. Switch didn't work. Second time this has happened with 10K Lux lights ordered here on Amazon. Was hoping this brand would be reliable. Alas. Was screening for good ones to talk about on my podcast. Companies: get your product quality down. Word spreads fast nowadays-- A Huberman