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One group of people who could potentially be affected: people who use anti-SAD lighting (especially people building souped-up DIY rigs: https://meaningness.com/

One group of people who could potentially be affected: people who use anti-SAD lighting (especially people building souped-up DIY rigs: https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-led-lux https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-led-lux). Those use LEDs and are specifically meant to be very bright and very blue. Hopefully this turns out not to be a big deal. Having to choose between depression and retina damage would sure suck :/

WalterSear 10y ago
There has to be a happy medium. If we aren't built for stupid amounts of blue light, then it seems counter-intuitive that some people might need that.
- r00fus 10y ago
  It could be that we're not built for specular (tight-beam) intensity with lower intensity all around (ie, high contrast).
GenerocUsername 10y ago
Also, those lights are suggested for skin exposure, not for staring directly into or for illuminating your space... still though, proximity would encourage more harmful interactions.
- mordechai9000 10y ago
  They are not intended strictly for skin exposure. They are marketed and used as a way to expose your eye (brain) to the high light levels that (may be) needed to regulate diurnal activity.
  - jsjohnst 10y ago
    The Phillips light specifically has warnings about not looking directly at it, but rather having it in your peripheral vision. It calls out that eye damage can happen if staring directly at the light for prolonged periods.
    - null000 10y ago
      The lights that I've looked at (look up liberty vt20 for example) have all suggested that eye contact with the light, peripheral or otherwise, is essential for results.
- derefr 10y ago
  I've always wondered you could stimulate the same response during open-brain surgery, by just shining light directly onto the pineal gland.
twelvechairs 10y ago
Most anti-SAD lighting (your average full spectrum bulb not weird things like blue light beds) is not designed for high lumens like this but for broad-spectrum (avoiding spectral 'spikes'). Which should probably be beneficial on this issue
- kristofferR 10y ago
  The Philips goLITE BLU is a very popular "energy lamp" with blue light. http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HF3332_60/golite-blu-energy-light http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HF3332_60/golite-blu-energy-l... I couldn't find the exact brightness specifications, but I can testify that it is very bright on the max level.
  - jganetsk 10y ago
    Only 200 lux, according to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Light-Rechargeable/dp/B00M3SGD4Y/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483660561&sr=8-1&keywords=golite+blu+energy+light https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Light-Rechargea...
    - sigi45 10y ago
      10.000 lux for this version from philips: https://www.fonq.de/p/philips-hf3419-02-up-energy-light-tageslichtlampe/120371/?channel_code=1256&s2m_product_id=180578&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwMLDBRDCh_r9sMvQ_88BEiQA6zuAQz5KS6lb1iJ-jOlrx-oEn5H3FVSDMNjMdHihMd1jsEEaAhx38P8HAQ https://www.fonq.de/p/philips-hf3419-02-up-energy-light-tage...
toomim 10y ago
Yes, in fact the blue part of the spectrum is what works the BEST for light therapy, and also happens to be in the danger zone: http://www.sunnexbiotech.com/therapist/blue%20light%20damage.html http://www.sunnexbiotech.com/therapist/blue%20light%20damage... This article explains some of the tradeoffs at the specific wavelengths.
- upofadown 10y ago
  Article by a company with vested interest in green light therapy... The last time I went down the list of references I was personally not convinced, but not my field...
tr1ck5t3r 10y ago
These work wonders for those who suffer from SAD and are a lot lot cheaper and less harsh on your eyes. The light is like what you get during the summer, in fact its easy to forget you have the light on they are so natural. http://www.green-lamp.co.uk/cfl-bulbs/105w.html http://www.green-lamp.co.uk/cfl-bulbs/105w.html
DrScump 10y ago
Is there a light available that does both sunrise simulation and SAD-therapy spectrum lighting? Using the Philips line for an example, something like a blend of the Philips HF3520 Wake-Up light and the goLITE BLU HF34xx models?

WalterSear 10y ago

There has to be a happy medium. If we aren't built for stupid amounts of blue light, then it seems counter-intuitive that some people might need that.

r00fus 10y ago
It could be that we're not built for specular (tight-beam) intensity with lower intensity all around (ie, high contrast).

GenerocUsername 10y ago

Also, those lights are suggested for skin exposure, not for staring directly into or for illuminating your space... still though, proximity would encourage more harmful interactions.

mordechai9000 10y ago
They are not intended strictly for skin exposure. They are marketed and used as a way to expose your eye (brain) to the high light levels that (may be) needed to regulate diurnal activity.
- jsjohnst 10y ago
  The Phillips light specifically has warnings about not looking directly at it, but rather having it in your peripheral vision. It calls out that eye damage can happen if staring directly at the light for prolonged periods.
  - null000 10y ago
    The lights that I've looked at (look up liberty vt20 for example) have all suggested that eye contact with the light, peripheral or otherwise, is essential for results.
derefr 10y ago
I've always wondered you could stimulate the same response during open-brain surgery, by just shining light directly onto the pineal gland.

twelvechairs 10y ago

Most anti-SAD lighting (your average full spectrum bulb not weird things like blue light beds) is not designed for high lumens like this but for broad-spectrum (avoiding spectral 'spikes'). Which should probably be beneficial on this issue

kristofferR 10y ago
The Philips goLITE BLU is a very popular "energy lamp" with blue light. http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HF3332_60/golite-blu-energy-light http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HF3332_60/golite-blu-energy-l... I couldn't find the exact brightness specifications, but I can testify that it is very bright on the max level.
- jganetsk 10y ago
  Only 200 lux, according to Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Light-Rechargeable/dp/B00M3SGD4Y/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483660561&sr=8-1&keywords=golite+blu+energy+light https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Light-Rechargea...
  - sigi45 10y ago
    10.000 lux for this version from philips: https://www.fonq.de/p/philips-hf3419-02-up-energy-light-tageslichtlampe/120371/?channel_code=1256&s2m_product_id=180578&gclid=Cj0KEQiAwMLDBRDCh_r9sMvQ_88BEiQA6zuAQz5KS6lb1iJ-jOlrx-oEn5H3FVSDMNjMdHihMd1jsEEaAhx38P8HAQ https://www.fonq.de/p/philips-hf3419-02-up-energy-light-tage...

toomim 10y ago

Yes, in fact the blue part of the spectrum is what works the BEST for light therapy, and also happens to be in the danger zone: http://www.sunnexbiotech.com/therapist/blue%20light%20damage.html http://www.sunnexbiotech.com/therapist/blue%20light%20damage... This article explains some of the tradeoffs at the specific wavelengths.

upofadown 10y ago
Article by a company with vested interest in green light therapy... The last time I went down the list of references I was personally not convinced, but not my field...

tr1ck5t3r 10y ago

These work wonders for those who suffer from SAD and are a lot lot cheaper and less harsh on your eyes. The light is like what you get during the summer, in fact its easy to forget you have the light on they are so natural. http://www.green-lamp.co.uk/cfl-bulbs/105w.html http://www.green-lamp.co.uk/cfl-bulbs/105w.html

DrScump 10y ago

Is there a light available that does both sunrise simulation and SAD-therapy spectrum lighting? Using the Philips line for an example, something like a blend of the Philips HF3520 Wake-Up light and the goLITE BLU HF34xx models?