diff --git a/monai/data/image_reader.py b/monai/data/image_reader.py
index 515bf38a39..c104da702c 100644
--- a/monai/data/image_reader.py
+++ b/monai/data/image_reader.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterable, Iterator, Sequence
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Union
 
 import numpy as np
 from torch.utils.data._utils.collate import np_str_obj_array_pattern
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@
 cp, has_cp = optional_import("cupy")
 kvikio, has_kvikio = optional_import("kvikio")
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import cupy
+
+    NdarrayOrCupy = Union[np.ndarray, cupy.ndarray]
+else:
+    NdarrayOrCupy = Any
+
 __all__ = ["ImageReader", "ITKReader", "NibabelReader", "NumpyReader", "PILReader", "PydicomReader", "NrrdReader"]
 
 
@@ -663,10 +670,7 @@ def get_data(self, data) -> tuple[np.ndarray, dict]:
                     metadata[MetaKeys.SPATIAL_SHAPE] = data_array.shape
                 dicom_data.append((data_array, metadata))
 
-        # TODO: the actual type is list[np.ndarray | cp.ndarray]
-        # should figure out how to define correct types without having cupy not found error
-        # https://github.com/Project-MONAI/MONAI/pull/8188#discussion_r1886645918
-        img_array: list[np.ndarray] = []
+        img_array: list[NdarrayOrCupy] = []
         compatible_meta: dict = {}
 
         for data_array, metadata in ensure_tuple(dicom_data):
@@ -1104,10 +1108,7 @@ def get_data(self, img) -> tuple[np.ndarray, dict]:
             img: a Nibabel image object loaded from an image file or a list of Nibabel image objects.
 
         """
-        # TODO: the actual type is list[np.ndarray | cp.ndarray]
-        # should figure out how to define correct types without having cupy not found error
-        # https://github.com/Project-MONAI/MONAI/pull/8188#discussion_r1886645918
-        img_array: list[np.ndarray] = []
+        img_array: list[NdarrayOrCupy] = []
         compatible_meta: dict = {}
 
         for i, filename in zip(ensure_tuple(img), self.filenames):