Frequently ask questions

The luminette® is not suitable for children younger than 12 years old as the crystalline lens has not yet matured. It does not yet filter light rays in the same way that it does on adults. The result is a sensitivity to light that is too great. 

The ideal moment to do light therapy sessions depends on the problem.

However when it comes to continuous treatments (winter blues, lack of energy) it is best to carry the luminette for 30 minutes a day, starting as soon as possible after you get up, and certainly before 9 o´clock.

For certain people, particularly the elderly that have a tendency to fall asleep too early in the evening and who wake up too early in the morning, we recommend the use of the luminette® in the early evening (6 p.m.) for 30 minutes.

For others, particularly young people who are unable to fall asleep before 2 or 3 a.m. in the morning and who find it hard to get up before 12 noon, use of the luminette®, is recommended in the morning, before 10 a.m. and for 30 minutes.

For other ailments requiring light therapy (jet lag, night work, shift work) the specific moment when to use the luminette® is not necessarily the same. It is best to ask the advice of a specialist in chronotherapy. You could also visit the website of the cronotherapist, Roland Pec, http://www.rolandpec.org, and go to Chrono Sleep Well. He will suggest a program of rephasing customized online. 

The most important reasons for using the luminette® are:

• Seasonally induced problems or the winter blues:

Problems that arrive towards the end of the summer on our latitudes and often end spontaneously after March or April.

The symptoms are: moodiness, lack of energy, interrupted sleep and problems waking up, weight gain.

• Insomnia:

In particular, all types of problems linked to light depression or stress situations.

• All types of problems linked to a modification of the rhythm awake-asleep:

• In other words, problems linked to work involving variable times of rest, to night work or travel between time zones (jet lag). These problems include: irritability, acute fatigue, lack of attention at work, insomnia, waking up at night….

• Trouble sleeping due to the advancement of the phases:

CMainly affects elderly people who have a propensity to fall asleep after the evening meal and wake up too early in the morning. It is the result of long periods of being awake at night and daytime fatigue.

• Sleeping problems by moving back the phases:

This problem primarily affects young people who are having problems falling asleep until late into the night and then have problems waking up in the morning. The result is often academic or social disruption.

• Various illnesses characterized by chronic fatigue:

The origins of the problems are often misunderstood. Patients bunch together their problems under the heading of fatigue. 

We recommend you use the luminette® for 30 min. a day.

The « boosting» effect of the luminette® is semi direct. Just after a couple of days, you will feel your energy starting to come back and your mood will start lifting.

The effect on the biological clock is less quick but may be considered completed after 3 weeks of daily use. In fact, the scientists have estimated that it takes three weeks to reset our internal clock in step with the geological clock which becomes evident when the symptoms arising from this desynchronisation disappear. 

Amongst illnesses, the only ones that would be a reason to avoid light therapy is manic depression not treated with medication, ocular lesions and in particular, those on the retina (in this respect, a preceding ophthalmological examination is recommended). 

For persons suffering from cataracts, the light therapy may be less efficient. In fact, the crystalline lens filters part of the light rays. Conversely, for persons who have had an operation for cataracts, the opposite effect is evident and a limitation of the length of the sessions is recommended. In both cases, it is advisable to contact the ophthalmologist.

The side effects are rare and most often of a passing nature. It may be slight excitement, headache, nausea and a feeling of ocular tension. 

In patients suffering from cataracts, the crystalline lens is clouded and lets in less light. The luminette could be less efficient. 

No, this is not necessary since the artificial crystalline lens is less good at filtering light. In cases such as these, the patient should ask his/her ophthalmologist for advice before taking light therapy.  

No. In cases such as these, the patient should first ask his/her ophthalmologist for advice.

The batteries, fully charged, will last for approximately one hour. Sessions normally last 30 minutes. To ensure maximum efficiency we recommend charging the batteries after every use. 

The first time the batteries are used, they should be charged for 13 hours. Subsequently, it is enough to charge them for 8 hours?

No, because the batteries provided are batteries without a memory.

Yes. The lit lamp only shows that there is contact. It is the time of charging that counts. 

Yes, provided they are batteries with at least 1000 mash. 

Quite apart from the purely environmental aspect, we do not recommend the use of standard batteries (non rechargeable) where the intensity diminishes progressively. The risk is that you use the luminette at reduced strength which leads to a reduced efficiency. 

There are three masks of different sizes. The ideal position is the following: if you see the hologram (the visor) you see the shining spectrum decomposed (from red to blue). The luminette is in the right position when you see the red orange part of the spectrum in the lower part.