With the rapid development of nanotechnology, the application of nanomaterials in the medical field shows unprecedented potential and innovative prospects. In particular, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), due to their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, excellent thermal and electrical properties, high surface/volume aspect ratio, and high tensile strength, show great potential for application in biomedical and biotechnological fields. Ophthalmology, as a branch of medicine that requires great precision and innovation, is gradually becoming one of the hotspots for nanotechnology applications. Although the research and application of nanomaterials in ophthalmology have made some progress, the potential of SWCNTs in ophthalmology has not yet been explored. This paper is a comprehensive review of the applications of nanomaterials in ophthalmology, including their use in drug delivery, antimicrobials, imaging, tissue repair, and photodynamic therapy, and further explores the similar roles of SWCNTs in other medical fields, thus speculating on their potentially important value in ophthalmic research.