Doctors wear green or blue scrubs during surgery for several practical and scientific reasons. These colors help improve visibility, reduce eye strain, and maintain a sterile environment in the operating room.

Surgeons spend long hours focusing on a patient' s body, particularly blood and internal organs, which are predominantly red. If they wore white or red scrubs, their eyes would become fatigued faster due to the continuous exposure to a single color. Green and blue provide a soothing contrast that helps reduce eye strain and allows for prolonged focus.

Green and blue contrast sharply with red, making it easier for surgeons to distinguish different tissues and anatomical structures. This contrast improves precision and helps surgeons perform delicate procedures more effectively.

When a person stares at a red object for an extended period and then shifts their gaze to a white surface, they may see a greenish afterimage. This optical illusion occurs because the eyes become desensitized to red and compensate by seeing its complementary color. If a surgeon wore white, these afterimages could be distracting. Green and blue eliminate this issue, allowing surgeons to maintain visual clarity.