Light therapy increases visual contrast sensitivity in seasonal affective disorder

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of light therapy on visual contrast sensitivity in patients with seasonal affective disorder ( n=10) and healthy control subjects ( n=10). Static and dynamic visual contrast sensitivity was measured using a Venus system before and after 4 weeks of light therapy (10 000 lux, 30 min, 5 times a week). Light therapy increased static visual contrast sensitivity in the patients. We found no significant difference between the patients and controls either before or after light therapy. These results raise the possibility that light therapy induces retinal sensitization in seasonal affective disorder.