Why are surgical scrubs blue or green?

Article published at: Oct 14, 2025 Article author: Equipo Jelrisofit Article tag: Psicologia Color
¿Por qué los uniformes quirúrgicos son azules o verdes?
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Surgical wear is usually blue or green for a practical reason: during an operation, the team spends a lot of time observing reddish tissues under intense lights. Blue and green tones can reduce glare and make some afterimages less bothersome when the gaze shifts from the surgical field to a clear surface. However, color alone does not make a garment sterile or turn it into protective equipment.

The short answer: less glare and visual distractions

White reflects a lot of light. In a brightly lit operating room, a white gown, sheet, or surface can produce uncomfortable glare, especially after looking at red or pink-toned blood and tissues for a long time.

Blue and green offer a less bright and higher contrast visual background against white surfaces. This can help make the environment more comfortable for staff during prolonged procedures. It does not mean that these colors automatically improve accuracy or guarantee better surgical outcomes.

What happens when you look at red then white

Visual adaptation and afterimages

When a person fixes their gaze on an intense color for a considerable time, the visual system adapts to that stimulus. When quickly shifting to a clear surface, a greenish, cyan, or bluish afterimage may appear. In an operating room, this effect might be more evident when moving from reddish tissues to a white gown or sheet.

A popular explanation links the use of green and blue to the possibility that these afterimages blend better with the background and are less distracting. The idea is reasonable from a color perception standpoint, but it should not be transformed into a promise that the uniform prevents errors or "protects" the surgeon's eyesight. Furthermore, the exact historical origin of this custom is not fully confirmed. Live Science

Color does not automatically "reset" the eye

Expressions such as "resetting color perception" are useful for explaining the phenomenon simply but do not describe a demonstrated medical function of the uniform. Visual fatigue also depends on lighting, intervention duration, contrast, posture, and other environmental factors.

Why are both green and blue used so much?

The difference does not follow a universal rule

There is no universal rule stating that green is always better than blue. The choice depends on the protocol and conditions of each hospital. Both shades are used as an alternative to an intensely white background during an intervention.

Does the color represent a position or specialty?

Some hospitals use colors to distinguish areas, functions, or professional categories. For example, they might assign one color to operating room staff and another to hospitalization staff. This decision facilitates internal identification but belongs to the protocol of each institution.

Spanish guidelines for the design and operation of the surgical block show that white, blue, or green garments may exist depending on the area and the applied protocol. This serves as an example that there is no single international code for interpreting the color of a uniform. Ministerio de Sanidad de España

For this reason, it is not advisable to assume that a person in a green uniform is always a surgeon, that blue always identifies nursing staff, or that a specific color indicates a level of authority.

Color does not indicate sterility or protection against infections

This is an important distinction: a blue or green uniform can be a work scrub, but it is not necessarily a sterile or impermeable barrier.

Garment Main function What color does not demonstrate
Scrub or surgical pajamas Workwear for the healthcare environment, comfortable and easy to change or wash. Does not demonstrate sterility or protection against viruses, bacteria, or blood.
Sterile surgical gown Part of the sterile protocol during certain procedures. Color alone does not determine its level of protection.
Personal protective equipment Specific protection according to risk, material, and corresponding certification. A conventional scrub does not replace a certified garment.

During surgery, the scrub is part of the work attire; when the procedure requires it, a surgical gown and other elements are also used according to protocol. Protection depends on the garment, material, sterility, and usage procedure, not the color. Royal College of Surgeons of England

From white uniform to blue and green

Why white was so common

For a long time, white was associated with cleanliness, purity, and professionalism. It also made visible dirt easy to detect. However, increased lighting and longer intervention times made white surfaces less comfortable to work with.

A gradual transition, not a single moment

Popular history often attributes the change to a specific surgeon and a specific date, such as 1914. It is more prudent to speak of a gradual transition: green garments began to become widespread in the mid-20th century, and the modern scrub format was consolidated later. Royal College of Surgeons of England

Frequently asked questions

Does blue protect more than green?

No. Neither color offers superior protection by itself. Visual function depends on shade, brightness, lighting, and environment.

Does the scrub color indicate the professional's position?

Sometimes yes, when the hospital uses an internal code. It is not a universal rule and does not automatically identify a person's profession.

Is a blue or green scrub sterile?

Not necessarily. Sterility depends on processing, packaging, use, and the corresponding protocol. Color is not proof of sterility.

Is white prohibited in the operating room?

There is no global prohibition. Some hospitals prefer blue or green for visual and organizational reasons, while others may use different colors depending on the area and their own rules.

Conclusion

Surgical uniforms are often blue or green because these tones can reduce glare and make certain visual distractions less bothersome after observing reddish tissues for a long time. The choice may also respond to internal protocols and hospital organization.

The most important thing is not to confuse color with protection. A blue or green scrub is not automatically sterile, waterproof, or equivalent to personal protective equipment. To know the exact meaning of each uniform, consult the rules of the hospital or institution where it is used.

Sources consulted

  • https://www.livescience.com/32450-why-do-doctors-wear-green-or-blue-scrubs-.html
  • https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/calidadAsistencial/excelenciaClinica/docs/BQ.pdf
  • https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library-and-publications/library/blog/frock-coats-to-scrubs/
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