bearded dragons/UVB

Question
I feel terrible!!!! I got a bearded dragon for my boys as a pet and thought I researched well before getting him. I have a 12 in. high x30 in. long x12 in. wide tank, 2 pot lights one for daytime basking heat with a ZooMed 75Watt white light for day and one with a Flukers 75Watt black light for night. I have a third larger pot light with a Flukers coil 10.0 UVB 20 watt. All three sit on the screen at the top of the tank. I have a climbing "tree" and other climbing branches (store bought). I got all these things at a pet store I trusted from a man who seemed to know about beardies. NOW our beardie has spent a lot of time at the top of the tree as close to the lights as possible. Now his eyes are always closed except when he comes down to eat and I think they may be slightly swollen. I went online last night and saw how dangerous these coil UVB lights can be. I feel terrible!!! The pet stores in my small canadian city seem misinformed and under supplied. I called around and no one carries a Reptisun 10.0 flourescent tube only a Reptiglo 10.0 which is also too high isn't it? That is what I have been reading. I have a digital probe thermometer and I didn't seem to be getting it hot enough for him even in his basking area which is why I thought he liked to climb up closer. Now I don't know what to do and feel like an irresponsible pet owner. I could order the "right" lights online but it will take days. What can you suggest for me please?

Answer
Hello Paula,

Well, don't feel bad, most people make those same types of mistakes.  
That is too bad & I am sorry that he has had to go through this.
You are up in Canada, so it will probably be hard to find the Reptisun 10 tube bulb so maybe try finding an Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb.  The Reptiglo 10 tube bulb or coil lights are NOT good, so steer away from them.  They have not improved those lights yet & they were emitting some low wavelength light.  
It's not that the "10" is too high, it has to do with the "type" of wavelength being emitted.  The reason that he was climbing up towards the bulb is because he was attempting to get some UVB exposure by getting closer.  The emissions were low wavelength which produces non terrestrial UVB light such as UVC, etc.
Your tank is a little small for a mercury vapor bulb, but, you might be able to swing it since it is 30 inches tall.  I know you can find the Exoterra Solar Glo.  It is a mercury vapor bulb which emits heat along with UVB, & he would love it.
However, for now, turn off all the Flukers coil.  Just use a bright white basking light such as a household light or a halogen for approximately 2 weeks or so to let his eyes heal up.  So, if you do purchase the Solar Glo, don't put it on him for at least 2 weeks.  It will need to be 14 or so inches away from him.
Great you are using a digital probe or a temp gun to measure the temperatures because you will need it to monitor the temps once you get the mercury vapor bulb.  I normally don't recommend using one in tanks smaller than 40 gallons.  You can sit the bulb on top of the screen top.  You will need to get a ceramic based dome light fixture rated at least 250+ watts just to handle the Solar Glo mercury vapor bulb because it is 125 watts & will get hot in a plastic based light fixture.  
Also, he could use some sterile saline eye drops for his eyes, to help him out also.  

Let me know how he is doing.
Is he eating very much right now?
Also, you will want to supplement him with some extra calcium for a month or two, since he has not been able to absorb calcium very well with that light.  Maybe try to find some liquid calcium if possible.  They probably have Bone Aid by T-rex up there.  I sell liquid calcium, but I don't know how much it would be to ship to Canada.  

Tracie