Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp Review

Each morning, you can find me with a cup of tea, sunbathing in the light coming through my east-facing windows. I settle on the floor for an hour or two of work and allow the light to naturally wake me up, energize me for the day and, generally, boost my mood. The longer I engage in this routine, the more obvious it becomes when this “me-time” isn’t possible.

$69 at Amazon

I initially reviewed the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp (available at Amazon) in the late summer when there was still a good amount of sunshine and warmth in Chicago. The second the sun began to set at 5 p.m., and morning work hours began in darkness, I knew it was time to test it again with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in full swing.

For the purpose of this light therapy lamp review, I used the product for several weeks to see how its man-made light may, or may not, positively impact my mood.

How the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp works

The Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp retails for about $70, depending on where you buy it. Best Buy has a series of options from the Circadian Optics brand, but I used the Lumos lamp: a smaller light that can be directed at you from a variety of positions on a desk.

The light features UV-free LED bulbs that are said to fight mental and physical ailments such as insomnia, jet lag, and SAD. Official documentation also claims the bulb lasts a staggering 50,000 hours while emitting 10,000 Lux of light. This is an impressive amount of time that should be long enough to pull you through the darkest days without much question of when your potentially mood-boosting light source might run out.

What I like about the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp

Brightness settings

The Circadian Optics lamp has three brightness settings designed to adjust its light intensity, which seems like an easy win for those who don’t want a football-stadium-level light shining on their face. While the first setting is undeniably bright, the light’s dimming options let the user adjust the power based on their personal preference.

Because I have sensitive eyes, I chose to enjoy the light on its middle or lowest setting. This personal selection did not seem to interfere with my enjoyment of the lamp, as I still experienced improved energy levels after using it.

Natural light replacement

There’s no denying I felt an increase of energy on the days I used the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp. I don’t believe it was the lamp itself giving me a boost of energy, rather that the light signaled my body to full alertness in hours I would otherwise be dragging my feet.

$69 at Amazon

Seasonal depression has a hold on many Chicagoeans at different levels of disability. For me, it’s mostly gloom and a decision to stay in bed instead of meeting friends for a drink or braving the cold for any reason. This sunlight therapy lamp truly helped me push myself in my daily routines. I found myself going to the gym more and leaning into the light on days when my winter blues was exceptionally debilitating.

It fits a variety of users

Something that can’t be ignored about the Circadian Optics lamp is that it could theoretically be used both clinically and personally. For people who just need help regulating their energy levels, the product is easily accessible in a variety of marketplaces. However, for those who would benefit from clinical use of the lamp, like those with bipolar disorders or schizophrenia, whose congruent circadian rhythm can make or break how they feel, the lamp is just as affordable and accessible.

Though the light doesn’t necessarily give warmth, it simulates those mornings I’d sit in my window to soak in the sun—something I haven’t been able to do in at least a month. I personally like to begin my mornings with the lamp to simulate an actual sun pattern.

However, I can imagine there may also be a benefit to using the lamp at night if you’re someone who suffers from intense depression, as sadness can sometimes amplify in the latter half of the day. This may be a good time to try the lamp, just to break up that routine.

As someone with chronic illness, I know too well that objects used as health aids can be upcharged to extreme prices, or be perpetually backordered. Circadian Optics avoids this mishap entirely by offering a product that can potentially be used in a wide variety of circumstances. Plus, they have a whole lineup of alternative light designs if one particular model happens to be out of stock.

What I don’t like about the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp

Mileage may vary in improving sleep

I sleep chronically well, so this SAD lamp didn’t necessarily change my sleep routine. However, for someone who struggles with sleep, I think using the lamp during daytime hours, especially upon waking, may help assimilate their body to a new day.

Rather than helping to fall asleep, I assume the lamp may be more useful for groggy, non-morning people who need an extra boost to feel like a full human being in the early hours. The product’s light stimulates daylight, so just a few minutes with the lamp turned on may help the body crawl out of hibernation when it’s time to be productive.

That said, because this lamp didn’t impact my personal resting pattern, it’s hard to say just how much it might assist somebody else who’s having time maintaining restful sleep. In this regard especially, your mileage may vary.

Lack of LED color options

I’m sure there are scientific purposes for the bright white lights featured in the Circadian Optics lamp, but I’d be curious to see what other bulbs could be incorporated to simulate a full-day cycle. As stated above, the Circadian Optics lamp is great if you need to wake up, but I’d imagine there may also be a market for nighttime lamps, or a daytime-progression setting, which sees the lamp fully transition from daylight to dusk.

I’d love to see a lamp that mimics golden hour, or even the blush tones of a sunset through a similar light box. While this may not be as scientifically accurate, I feel it would be a gamechanger for anxiety, and a way to allow the body to believe it was entering a period of calm, rather than a time it was expected to be fully awake.

The white light of the Circadian Optics lamp serves its purpose of making you alert, but I couldn’t help but feel the product has the potential to be slightly more versatile than it currently is if it had a few more lighting options in tow.

Should you buy the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp?

Yes, if you need a little morning boost

Ultimately, your choice of buying a product like the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp comes down to personal preference. While there’s certainly merit in having the lamp on hand for particularly difficult days, I’d only recommend investing if you’re someone who struggles with symptoms of seasonal or regular depression.

In my trials, the biggest difference appeared to be the amount of motivation I had throughout the day. So, if you’re looking for a tool to help you build up stamina, or to help you feel a bit more cheerful, it’s worth a try. It’s also a great option if a mental health expert recommends a therapy light because of the clinical reasons stated above. It seems unlikely this product would treat SAD completely, but it could possibly improve the symptoms to some degree.

Upon trying the lamp again in the winter months, I’m a big believer in this product. Obviously, if you live in Arizona or California, you may not have a need for this. My fellow Midwesterners, however, do yourself a favor and try this lamp. I think it may bring us all a bit of extra joy every year when we buckle in for yet another brutal, dim winter.

If you’re iffy on the idea of a using therapy lamp to ease the impact of mood disorders, you might want to avoid light therapy lamps altogether. But if you’re intrigued by how the lamp could improve your well-being, and have confidence you’ll use it during gloomier times of the year, the Circadian Optics brand offers an affordable way to experiment with bright light therapy.

$69 at Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.