10,000 lux

Lux is a way to measure how bright a light source is, as perceived by humans. (If you want the complete skinny, look up "lux" in Wikipedia.) Roughly, one lux is the same as moolight at high altitude in tropical areas. In order to create a device for relief of SAD, for those of us who are Winter Challenged, we have to stuff 10,000 of those moons into one single little metal box.

10,000 lux is the standard number of lux needed for the treatment of SAD. But if you don't want to deal with all those moons (figuratively speaking) you can, like the nice lady in the illustration to the right, use a BioBrite Deluxe Light Visor.

The Deluxe Light Visor has a variable light output of between 500 and 3000 lux, meaning that the wearer can control the lux output and the time of the light session by means of two knobs on the battery pack that comes with the Visor.

But, you are wondering, is a device with 3000 lux as effective as one with 10,000 lux?

Yes, because the light source sits much closer to your eyes, and therefore much less light is lost to diffusion. Peer reviewed tests have shown that the Visor is, indeed, as effective as a light box, and the Visor goes with you. You do not have to sit in one place to absorb the beneficial lux.