Why Is the Operating Room Green?

In the early days of modern surgery, doctors wore white coats. White symbolized cleanliness and sterility, and in the early years of the 20th century this color was a sign of medical progress. However, this color choice soon created serious problems for surgeons.

The color green, seen worldwide today in operating rooms and surgeons' uniforms, has an amazing story of scientific evolution and deep human understanding of the psychological and physiological effects of color. This color, before being an aesthetic choice, is a smart solution to increase accuracy and reduce eye fatigue of surgeons.

historical roots; From white to green

According to Rosiato, in the early days of modern surgery, doctors wore white clothes. White was a symbol of cleanliness and sterility, and in the early years of the 20th century, this color was considered a sign of medical progress. But this color choice soon brought serious problems for the surgeons.

During surgeries, surgeons spend hours looking at the body tissues with dark and red colors. The white clothes and intense light of the operating room created a light reflection that caused severe eye fatigue and even excruciating headaches. This problem is exactly like the feeling we experience in winter days with the reflection of sunlight on the snow.

The use of green color in surgical environments, in addition to creating a contrast with the red color of body tissues, helps reduce eye fatigue and maintain the surgeon's focus. This feature can increase visual accuracy during long operations.

Green is the opposite of red on the color wheel. This feature helps surgeons to increase their visual sensitivity. As the eye moves from the red tissues to the green space, a visual balance is created that improves accuracy and focus.

After focusing on red tissues for a long time, the eye gets tired and visual hallucinations may occur. The green color minimizes this phenomenon and does not allow distracting images to appear in the surgeon's field of view.

mental peace; The effect of color on the mind

Green color has a profound effect on the human nervous system. This color lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and creates a sense of relaxation. For patients and surgeons, a green environment can be healing and reduce the stress caused by the surgical process.

Green color has other advantages, including the following:

Blood stains on green clothes are removed faster and easier. This practical advantage is another reason for the persistence of green color in medical environments.

Green color has less reflection against the artificial lights of the operating room and makes the eyes less tired. This feature is very important during long operations.

Why do surgeons wear green?

Many of the reasons that make green a good choice for the operating room also apply to surgeons' uniforms. Surgeons need high focus and visual accuracy during long operations, and green color can also be used to reduce eye fatigue. This color creates a suitable contrast against the redness of blood and body tissues and reduces the possibility of seeing red afterimages. Also, green clothing reflects less light compared to white clothing and helps to maintain easier visibility in the bright environment of the operating room.