Every autumn we see more people at our centre in Brussels with seasonal depression. As soon as the days get shorter, energy drops, falling asleep shifts later and mood dips. This is not imagination. Light is the main signal that sets our body clock, and a grey November day in Belgium gives far less light than our brain is built for.
What does the research say?
Light therapy is one of the best studied non-medication treatments in psychiatry. A review of 21 studies in 1.037 people found that light therapy works clearly better than a placebo treatment for winter depression (Chen et al., Journal of Affective Disorders, 2024). A second review of 17 studies in 773 people compared colours of light: white light came out best, followed by green, blue and red (Wan et al., Medicine, 2025).
There is also growing evidence for depression outside the winter months, for jet lag, and for when your body clock simply runs late and you struggle to fall asleep on time.
What about light therapy glasses?
Glasses such as the Luminette bring the light close to your eyes. Less light is therefore needed than with a classic light box, and you can move around while using them. Research on the glasses themselves is still limited. The studies are small, including a Belgian study in hospital staff working without daylight, which found improvements in daytime sleepiness and general wellbeing (Bragard and Coucke, Cancer Radiothérapie, 2013). A review of nine studies using blue light found no better results than a standard light box, but no worse either, and it was well tolerated (Do et al., Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2022).
In short: the principle is solid, the glasses are practical, and they seem to work about as well as a light box. That convenience matters, because the best light therapy is the one you are still using in January.
How do you use it?
Use the light in the morning, shortly after waking, if you feel low on energy, low in mood or have trouble falling asleep on time. Twenty to sixty minutes a day, from early autumn until spring. Consistency matters more than intensity. If you fall asleep far too early instead, evening light may suit you better, but discuss this first.
Seasonal depression in Brussels: when to be careful
Talk to your doctor first if you have bipolar disorder, as light can trigger a manic episode. The same applies if you have a retinal condition, have had eye surgery, or take medication that increases light sensitivity, such as lithium, certain antibiotics or St John’s wort. Light therapy is an addition and does not replace psychotherapy or medication.
Try it first, and a discount for our patients
We keep a demo device at the centre. Feel free to ask for it at your appointment so you can try the glasses on before buying anything.
If you decide to buy one, Luminette offers patients of our centre a discount: the code BMHC15 gives you 15% at myluminette.com.
To be clear: our centre and our clinicians receive no commission or payment on sales. We did receive one demo device from the manufacturer for patients to try. Other devices, such as a standard 10.000 lux light box, are equally valid choices.
Help with seasonal depression in Brussels
Brussels Mental Health Center treats seasonal depression and other mood difficulties at two locations, Plasky in Schaerbeek and Flagey in Ixelles, in English, Dutch, French and several other languages. A psychiatrist or psychologist will look with you at whether light therapy fits your situation, on its own or alongside psychotherapy or medication. You can register through the intake form on this website.