Why Do Doctors Wear Green Or Blue Scrubs?
By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: April 8, 2020 16:40 IST2020-04-08T16:40:47+5:302020-04-08T16:40:47+5:30
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Have you ever wondered why green or blue scrubs are usually worn in the operating room? While this may seem insignificant, this practice can actually determine the success of a surgical operation.
When you look at the doctor or nurse or look at the hospital, you see green or blue clothes or curtains. But have you ever wondered why at the end of the operation, doctors wear green or blue clothes only? Red, yellow or any other color
Normally from the doctor to the hospital all the staff were wearing white clothes. Even now some doctors wear white clothes. But in 1914, an influential doctor changed the tradition of white clothes into green clothes.
Some doctors use blue clothes or white. Not only that, the colors of the hospital screens are also green or blue. In addition, the hospital staff's clothes and masks are green or blue.
It was during this time in the early 20th century, that surgeons began to realize issues with their seemingly harmless white scrubs. The problem is that an immaculate white color can actually blind surgeons for several moments if they shift their gaze from the dark color of blood to the scrubs of their colleagues. The same effect occurs when you first go outside in winter and see the sunlight reflected off snow.
It came to the point that during surgery, doctors began to get headaches from staring at the white scrubs of their colleagues for too long.
In 1914, one influential doctor switched to green scrubs when operating because he thought it would be easier on his eyes.
Eventually, surgeons all across the world began to trade in their white scrubs for blue or green. This also made it easier for employees at hospitals who had the very difficult job of trying to remove blood stains from doctors garments.
However, this still doesn’t explain why surgeons chose green and blue as the primary colors for their scrubs and not purple or yellow.
Another reason has to do with a surgeon’s deep focus on red during an operation. Red can lead to distracting green illusions on white surfaces.
If a surgeon shifts his glance from bloody organs to a white lab coat, a green illusion of the patient’s red insides may appear on the white background. The distracting image would follow the surgeon’s gaze wherever he looks, similar to the floating spots we see after a camera flash.
Doctors only wear green clothes during the operation, as they constantly need to see blood and organs in the human body. It can cause them mental stress. In this way, green and color can provide comfort.