<p>Hearing loss is a common health problem around the world, greatly affecting communication and quality of life. Traditional electrical cochlear implants have been very helpful in restoring hearing, but their limitations in sound quality, clarity of sound, and range make listening less than perfect. Optical cochlear implants (oCIs) have come up as an exciting new option, using light to carefully stimulate and activate specific auditory nerves. This review gives a detailed look at oCIs, focusing on how they work—optogenetics, infrared neural stimulation (INS), and near-infrared stimulation (NIRS)—as well as improvements in micro-LED arrays and light delivery systems made from polymers. Optogenetics, with its unmatched ability to control light and timing, is very important for developing oCIs. Other technologies, like hybrid optical-electrical systems, could help solve current problems such as delivering genes effectively, making devices smaller, and being safe for the body. This review looks the progress, limits, and future paths of oCI research. It highlights the need for teamwork across different fields and clinical trials to connect early innovations with human use. oCIs could change auditory neuroprosthetics for the better. They are an important step towards restoring clear hearing and enhancing the quality of life for people with hearing loss.</p>