diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 276f28dd..6fce1a04 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "pydicom>=3.0.1",
     "pyjpegls>=1.0.0",
     "typing-extensions>=4.0.0",
+    "packaging>=25.0"
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
diff --git a/src/highdicom/_dependency_utils.py b/src/highdicom/_dependency_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c7643c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/highdicom/_dependency_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+from importlib import import_module, metadata
+from packaging.requirements import Requirement
+from types import ModuleType
+
+
+def import_optional_dependency(
+    module_name: str,
+    feature: str
+) -> ModuleType:
+    """Import an optional dependency.
+
+    This function is designed to support interaction with other common
+    libraries that are not required for `highdicom` by default.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    module_name: str
+        Name of the module to be imported.
+    feature: str
+        Name or description of the feature that requires this dependency.
+        This is used for improving the clarity of error messages.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ModuleType:
+        Imported module.
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    ImportError:
+        When the specified module cannot be imported.
+
+    """
+    for req_str in metadata.requires('highdicom'):
+        req = Requirement(req_str)
+        if req.name == module_name:
+            break
+
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f'`{module_name}` is not a requirement of highdicom '
+            f'but is required for {feature}.'
+        )
+
+    try:
+        module = import_module(name=module_name)
+
+    except ImportError as error:
+        raise ImportError(
+            f'Optional dependency `{module_name}` could not be imported'
+            f' but is required for {feature}.'
+            f' highdicom requires {module_name}{req.specifier}.'
+        ) from error
+
+    installed_version = metadata.version(module_name)
+
+    if installed_version not in req.specifier:
+        raise ImportError(
+            f'Optional dependency `{module_name}` has an unsuitable '
+            f'version. Found {module_name}=={installed_version}, but '
+            f'highdicom requires {module_name}{req.specifier}.'
+        )
+
+    return module