The ReptiSun Experiment
Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:24:03 am

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I just spent $48 on a light bulb, which I believe is more than the total I have spent on all previous light bulbs combined. I purchased the ReptiSun 5.0 UVB Tropical Reptile Lamp. It is marketed for use with reptiles and has a warning indicating that it should only be used for them. I don't have any reptiles and I don't intend to get any. I bought it because it emits ultraviolet light along with full spectrum visible light.

I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. The prevailing hypothesis is that this condition is caused by a reduction in sunlight that occurs during the winter. The most common remedy that is recommended is the use of full spectrum lighting. Studies show that there is some improvement, but something must be missing if success rates are nowhere near 100%. For me, full spectrum lighting has not helped at all. Maybe I don't have normal SAD. Temperature makes much more of a difference for me. If I am very cold, I sit all day shivering and being very unproductive regardless of how much full spectrum lighting I get. If I am warm, I can be happy and productive even in low light conditions. However, my condition is not completely remedied by warmth. Light does seem to be a component. Full spectrum lighting combined with adequate warmth helps a lot, but it still feels like an incomplete solution. Something else is missing.

My hypothesis is that the final missing part is ultraviolet light. Full spectrum lights do not emit ultraviolet light. In fact, they contain a coating specifically designed to block emission of ultraviolet light. This is done because excessive ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer and cataracts. This is the reason for the warnings that come with the ReptiSun. The level of ultraviolet light released by ReptiSun is far less than the level used in tanning beds. It is very unlikely to cause skin cancer even if I stand naked in front of it for several hours every day. However, there may still exist a risk of eye damage, but I doubt it will happen unless I stare directly at it. It's a risk I'm willing to take. There is far more ultraviolet light outdoors in the summer and I seldom wear sunglasses.