Is halogen light (provided any UV is filtered out and one can stand the heat) an alternative light generating method for light therapy?Answered by:Michael Terman
The heat at 10,000 lux would be exceedingly uncomfortable. The bulbs would have to be placed behind a smooth diffusing screen (not directly visible), which would in itself require boosting bulb output further.
Bulb life would be far shorter than with fluorescent sources. Electric power consumption would not be economical.
Finally, infrared emission from these bulbs is very high and poses a risk factor for thermal damage to structures in the eye. This is not a practical or safe solution except for use with low-level dawn simulation.
Michael Terman, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry
Dr. Terman is Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the College of Physicians & Surgeons. He heads the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and the Clinical Chronobiology Program at New York State Psychiatric Institute.
His fields of interest include depression, sleep, clinical chronobiology, photobiology, melatonin, instrumentation, psychiatric diagnosis and assessment. He was graduated from Columbia College in 1964 and received a doctorate in physiological psychology from Brown University in 1968. With his career-long c...
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