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When people think of a doctor’s image, they immediately picture a white coat; if a doctor enters or exits an operating room, they are wearing clothes in a color leaning toward blue or green. On the surface, this attire seems ordinary for doctors. But upon closer thought, questions arise: How did white coats become standard wear for doctors? And why do doctors on the operating table wear blue clothes instead?

From Gray Robes to White Coats: Protecting Doctors First, Then Patients

Before the 20th century, doctors in Europe and America dressed rather like gentlemen. Clad in tall top hats and gray robes, they moved through the early hospitals of that era. Back then, the concepts of modern microbiology and disinfection had not yet been established—this outfit was purely to "protect the doctors themselves"—preventing bloodstains, dust, and other contaminants from soiling the clothes underneath the robe. Gray robes helped hide stains as much as possible. In medieval Europe, doctors even wore "bird-beak masks" and full-body gray or black robes; though intimidating in appearance, these were a historical testament to humanity’s fight against plagues.

White coats have only been worn by doctors for a little over a hundred years, and they are regarded as a symbol of cleanliness and neatness. One theory holds that Joseph Lister, a British surgeon, was the first to promote surgical disinfection—and it was from him that white coats gradually became popular. Today, many medical schools in the United States hold a "White Coat Ceremony" for graduating students. This ceremony is extremely solemn, symbolizing the start of a career in medicine. Approximately 50% of patients believe that a doctor only looks like a doctor if they wear a white coat over their regular clothes.

Obviously, white is the color most likely to show dirt. Even a small bloodstain or speck of dust will make pure white look unsightly. This encourages the frequent washing and disinfection of white coats, which to some extent plays a role in "protecting patients." If you get the chance, take a look at the white coats of doctors—check if the collars and cuffs are soiled or if the fabric is neat and stiff.

Of course, some doctors complain: "Today’s white coats are not nice-looking; they are all the same, with no uniqueness." Hospitals are filled with people in white coats, and even renowned professors "blend into the crowd." Many hospitals or departments have put great effort into the details of white coats: embroidering the hospital’s logo on the pockets, or clearly marking the department and the doctor’s name, can make a white coat look "high-end." As the saying goes, "Clothes make the man." Weaving or printing a doctor’s name on their white coat makes it easier for patients to recognize them, builds trust, and may help improve doctor-patient communication.

Surgical Gowns: Relieving Doctors’ Visual Fatigue

But when doctors enter the operating room, they change into a different set of clothes—and the color is not white. Why is that? First, upon entering the operating room, doctors change into "scrub tops and pants" (commonly called "scrubs" in English). This outfit is like the "pajamas" of the operating room: loose, comfortable, and easy to put on and take off. If you enjoy watching medical dramas, you may have noticed that in Grey's Anatomy, the doctors wear navy blue scrubs underneath their white coats.

As the name suggests, scrub tops and pants are worn by doctors when they wash and disinfect their hands before surgery. Scrubs have always maintained their unique, simple design: short-sleeved V-neck tops, loose and easy-to-unfasten pants, which are easy to wash, durable, breathable, and comfortable to the touch. Over the scrubs, doctors put on a surgical gown—and this is the standard look of a surgeon when they step into the operating room. Surgical gowns are similar in color to scrubs, mostly in light blue, green, or other similar hues.

Since white represents cleanliness, why do surgical outfits come in blue or green? Before explaining this to you, look at the image below.

Stare at the black dot in the left image for at least 30 seconds, then quickly shift your eyes to the black dot in the white area on the right. At this moment, you will "see" a circle of a different color—blue-green. If you close your eyes quickly after looking at the left image, you will also see this phenomenon. In psychology, this is called the "afterimage visual effect." That is, if you stare at one color for a long time, when you shift your gaze to another place, you will see the complementary color of the previous one. For example, red pairs with green, blue with orange, and yellow with purple.

During surgery, doctors focus intently on blood-red tissues or organs. To reduce the green "disturbance" caused by the afterimage visual effect, using the same color (green or blue) can immediately alleviate this issue. Therefore, light blue or green surgical gowns are less likely to cause visual fatigue. If you ever get the chance to enter an operating room, take note of the color of the walls—more often than not, they are light blue or green, which also serves the purpose of relieving doctors’ visual fatigue.

Another reason is that when staring at red or pink organs for a long time, the brain tends to tire, leading to "blurred" vision of red and making it hard to see clearly. Shifting one’s gaze to green from time to time helps maintain the brain’s sensitivity to red and ensures the accuracy of the scalpel’s movements.