(background): With the highest 5-year recurrence rate among malignancies, bladder cancer is a relatively common type of cancer that typically originates from the urothelial cells lining the bladder. Additionally, bladder cancer is one of the most financially burdensome neoplasms to medical institutions in terms of management. Hence, prompt identification and accurate handling of bladder cancer are pivotal for enhancing patient prognosis. Optical imaging has experienced remarkable advancements in fundamental medical research owing to its cost-effectiveness and capacity for real-time imaging. The utilization of near-infrared imaging techniques has also become a prominent area of research in recent times. By effectively decreasing the adverse effects of light scattering and tissue autofluorescence, this technique offers a deeper penetration depth, a better signal-to-noise ratio of images, and a clear resolution for imaging. Thus, this article introduces the application of near-infrared fluorescence imaging in diagnosing and treating bladder cancer. Furthermore, the paper delves into the field's obstacles, possibilities, and upcoming prospects., (results): Near-infrared fluorescence has advantages over white or blue light in theory and in most articles. However, the lack of penetration depth of NIR fluorescence imaging is still a challenge., (conclusion): Despite notable improvements in the depth of near-infrared fluorescence imaging, the penetration of deeper tissues remains a barrier. It is our hope and pursuit that NIR fluorescence imaging technology can achieve good depth and precision in surgery., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)