Current Perspectives on Augmented Reality and Head-Mounted Displays in Endoscopy: A Scoping Review

Background Augmented reality–enabled head-mounted displays (AR-HMDs) are emerging as alternative visualization interfaces in endoscopic surgery. This scoping review maps current applications, methodological characteristics, and performance trends of AR-HMDs across different procedural contexts. Methods Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2025 were searched in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria and were charted using a predefined data framework that categorized HMD configurations by registration type and imaging dimension. A qualitative Likert-scale evaluation further compared six representative configurations across visibility, usability, and latency dimensions. Results AR-HMDs have been applied in endoscopic, laparoscopic and thoracic, transluminal and endoluminal procedures, enhancing spatial awareness, navigation precision, and training efficiency. Head-anchored systems provide optimal responsiveness and easy o setup, whereas world- and object-anchored setups enable more immersive 3D integration with anatomical structures. Discussion Evidence indicates that AR-HMDs can enhance visibility, usability, and cognitive efficiency compared with traditional displays, though challenges remain in latency, ergonomics, and setup complexity. Further technical optimization is needed before these systems can achieve wider clinical adoption. Conclusion AR-HMDs have demonstrated promising applicability across various endoscopic procedures and may play an increasingly important role in enhancing visualization and workflow efficiency as technical and ergonomic limitations are further addressed.