What Is Light Therapy for SAD?
Light therapy for SAD uses a full-spectrum bright light that is shined directly into your eyes. When you use light therapy, you sit about 2 feet away from a bright light — about 20 times brighter than normal room lighting. The therapy starts with one 10- to 15-minute session per day. Then the times increase to 30 to 45 minutes a day, depending on your response. Some people with SAD recover within days using light therapy. Others take much longer. If the SAD symptoms are not resolved, the prescribing doctor may increase the light therapy session to twice daily. Those who respond to light therapy are encouraged to continue until they can be out in the sunshine again in the springtime.
