Light Therapy Glasses

Light is the most powerful circadian cue. It can help you reset your circadian clock and alleviate winter depression.

Daylight lamps have become the standard device for light therapy, and they remain so. However, these lamps require you to sit close to them for 30-60 minutes in the morning, which many people find inconvenient [1].

Light therapy glasses, also known as light wearables or visors, provide a portable solution for light therapy. Worn like glasses, integrated LEDs illuminate the eyes from the inside of the frame, allowing for mobile light therapy. Compared to daylight lamps, light therapy glasses have the added advantage of keeping the distance and angle of light to the eyes optimal throughout the session, as intended by manufacturers.

Unlike the traditional recommendation of 5000-10000 Lux for daylight lamps [4], light therapy glasses take advantage of the fact that ipRGC cells in the eye, responsible for circadian clock adjustments, are most sensitive to the blue-green wavelength range (peaking around 480 nanometers). Studies have shown that much lower intensities (~100 Lux) in these wavelengths can influence our circadian system [2,3]. The light emitted by these glasses is usually blue, green, or blue-enriched white light at intensities well below 10,000 Lux.

The first light therapy glasses on the market were the Luminette, launched by the Belgian start-up Lucimed in 2006. Since then, a handful of competitors have entered the market, each with a different focus (more compact design, classic glasses look, insomnia treatment). Because light therapy glasses haven’t yet reached the mainstream market, most of the currently available products are from start-ups or university spin-offs that base their products on strong scientific foundations and focus exclusively on this technology, which, in my opinion, enhances their reliability.

Conclusion

Light therapy glasses are an innovative approach to light therapy, making it easier to stick to treatment consistently. Wavelength, intensity, and angle are optimized for effectiveness and comfort, and these remain so even when you move. While some may find the mobility offered by light therapy glasses a major advantage over daylight lamps, others might not prefer wearing a futuristic-looking device on their face. Whatever your preference, having alternatives can help you choose the solution that works best for you and effectively improves your situation.

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