If a person has an eye or skin condition, which is affected by bright light, they should consult a doctor before embarking on light therapy, If a person is suffering from disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, retinopathy, then they should not undergo bright light treatment. The bright light could worsen their eye problem or cause a rash in a skin condition. If they suffer from hypertension, diabetes or have any history of eye disease in the family, they should seek medical advice before commencing light therapy (Lam & Levitt, 1999).
Light therapy has been shown to be a successful, non-invasive therapy without significant side effects, within many spheres of our lives. Indeed, a Canadian study has revealed improvements in academic achievement, attendance records and growth rates in the classroom when children were treated with bright light. It also showed a reduction in tooth decay.
Another study at Cornell University showed that working under very bright lighting helped to reduce perceptual fatigue. The positive implications and applications of light therapy are only just being recognised; it is clear that in the future we will need to re-think how we use lighting within our schools, workplaces, hospitals and homes.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.britebox.co.uk/)
