Philips Health GoLite M2 Blue Spectrum Light Therapy Device
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Customer Reviews of Philips Health GoLite M2 Blue Spectrum Light Therapy Device
Customer Review: Two recent clinical studies confirm: blue light can damage eye cell DNA!
Summary: 1 Stars
We've all heard that ultraviolet light can damage our eyes and skin. But, as this ScienCentral News video reports,there's more evidence that blue light (400 - 500nm) can damage our eyes.
"Blue light is the most energetic portion of the visible light spectrum," says ophthalmologist Bernard Godley, of the Retina Foundation of the Southwest in Dallas.
"It's less energetic than UV radiation but it also has the ability to penetrate into tissue and cause cellular damage."
Godley, working with an international team of researchers, has shown that chronic exposure to blue light damages retina cells in the lab -- the same cells involved in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness untreatable vision loss and legal blindness in the U.S. for people over the age of 60.
"The type of damage that we're seeing in the Petri dish... could very well be occurring in macular degeneration," says Godley.
Godley and his colleagues reported in The Journal of Biological Chemistry that blue light alone can damage the power houses of the retina cells, called mitochondria, and in particular the DNA of these energy-producing structures, suggesting that any cells exposed to visible light -- including skin cells -- may sustain damage.
The researchers exposed cultured retina cells to blue light for up to six hours in the lab. Compared to cells that had been kept in the dark, they saw a loss of mitochondrial activity in the illuminated cells after only 6 hours and this loss became greater with increasing time.
Using a genetic technique called polymerase chain reaction they found that light exposure significantly damaged the DNA of the mitochondria after three hours, but by six hours the body's natural DNA repair process had kicked in, reducing the amount of damage.
"We confirmed that these changes, this damage, was caused by free radicals, which were generated by the mitochondria themselves. Evidence suggests that these changes may play a role in cellular aging, and in age-related diseases such as macular degeneration," says Godley, suggesting that, "blue light may contribute to the aging process."
AMD, which has robbed more than 10 million Americans of some or all of their vision, causes the deterioration of the cells in the center of the paper-thin, light-sensitive retina at back of the eye -- the macula -- that focuses the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve to the brain. This results in the progressive loss of central vision, affecting a person's ability to read, drive, recognize faces or colors, and generally see objects in fine detail.
In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision, and currently available treatments can delay, and sometimes prevent, the progression of the disease, leaving the person with some vision, but there is no cure
Customer Review: Great first experience with Light Therapy
Summary: 5 Stars
Hi All,
While no one in my home suffers from SAD, I thought this product would be a quick and easy pick me up for the dreary winter months. Much to my surprise it was.....
We have 3 kids....12, and twins boy/girl 7. The twins love to sleep in and often have their clocks out of whack in the winter.. This makes for tough school mornings. I wanted to try something that might offer a little brightening effects to get the day started right... I read about light therapy and figured we would give it a shot. We live in NJ....so we get sun..but sometimes its just dreary on cold Jan/Feb mornings... Yuck!!
Anyhow...we got the light in record time (thanks AMAZON) and charged it up immediately. We decided that we would put it on a counter in the kitchen so the light would not have to be in direct view. It was off on the side and using the alarm would come on every morning right around breakfast time for about 15-20 minutes.
At first it was a Novelty in the house...this new bright blue light...then it went un-noticed. This is exactly what I wanted...it there but it shouldnt be in your face...
I am happy to report that after a few months of usage there are definitely changes to the morning ritual around our house. The twins are full of energy when they get to the kitchen and feel even better when getting on the bus. There are no crying fits and or second thoughts of not wanting to go to school.
I can honestly say that I didnt believe light therapy to be real...but now I can say that my opinion has changed. Things improving in front of me in a 3 month span have convinced me that this light will find a permanent place in our home.
I have no doubt that this is a 5/5 product.
Customer Review: great product, received what appeared to be refurbished from amazon
Summary: 5 Stars
Apollo's GoLite M2 is a great product and Apollo is a good company with excellent customer service. What I received from Amazon had ink smudged on the buttons and made a horrible high pitched noise while charging. I contacted Apollo and explained the problem and they immediately sent me out a brand new replacement before even waiting for the return.
The M2 is compact, attractive, and very convenient. In addition to the light it also has a built in alarm clock that makes a pleasant sound that while being gentle enough to not shock me out of sleep is effective at waking me up. If it is plugged in when the alarm goes off the light will illuminate simultaneously. When not plugged in charging only the alarm will sound, but you can manually turn the light on and use it as long as it has a charge. Also, the alarm works whether the item is open or closed. Another nice feature is that as long as the light is not is use the clock screen goes dark after a few minutes so there is no light to disturb your sleep.
The carry case is well made and holds the clock and charger nicely. Mine went in checked baggage 3 times with no problems. The charger is unique in that it is quite slim and comes with adaptors for most countries.
They really put a lot of thought and work into the M2 and I couldn't think of anything I would change or any way they could make it better.
I am basing my 5 star rating on the replacement item Apollo sent me.
Customer Review: Changed my life!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never written an online review before (though I do read them often). I'm writing because I want other people who suffer from SAD, circadian rhythm disorder, etc to know that this product really works. I have gone to all sorts of extremes (including taking a powerful drug cocktail) trying to treat my seasonal depression with various degrees of success. I did try one of those huge light boxes several years ago but it was just too inconvenient and didn't seem to have much effect, so I had basically written off light therapy as a treatment. Then I tried this product, and NOTHING compares to the effect this light box is having on my life: after only two days of using it, I woke up today at 7 o'clock (on a gray and rainy Sunday morning!) without an alarm; got out of bed without the usual psychological struggle, and have already made it until noon without the desire to get back in bed or go into sofa-coma! It's absolutely amazing. And the best part is I'm traveling to the Northeast tomorrow and will be able to take this with me in my carry-on. If you suffer like I do, don't like taking drugs, and figure you just have to plod through the dark months, you don't! Go to the Apollo Health website to fill out an evaluation and get a personal treatment plan. Using the time-release melatonin as well (as Apollo suggests) helps as well. Good luck!!!Customer Review: Seems like it works...
Summary: 4 Stars
After going through several winters in the Northeast were we typically have overcast skies coupled with fewer daylight hours that seemed to drain me of energy & focus, I finally decided to see if light therapy would help. After doing a bit of reading of articles and product reviews, decided to go with this Apollo blue light. I can't scientifically prove that it has made a difference, but I feel that when I do use it, that I seem to not be as tired as I remember being without the light, and I've been able to get out of bed earlier. So, while I can't vouch 100% for the effect of light therapy and this product specifically, it's made enough of a difference that I'm going to continue using it. I recommend that if you feel like winters affect you that you try it - it's worth it to try to get back to a normal life. (You should probably not only use light therapy, but also make sure you take Vitamin D, as well as eat well, and exercise.)
As for this specific product - I appreciate that it is designed for travel and has a rechargeable battery. It's small enough and compact that you can take it with you on business trips or holidays. Of all the light products out there, it's practical, compact, and has useful features (alarm clock, light timer, etc).