The　development　of　high-performance　optically　transparent　radio　frequency　(RF)　radiators　is　limited　by　the　intrinsic　loss　issue　of　transparent　conductive　films　(TCFs).　Instead　of　pursuing　expensive　endeavors　to　improve　the　TCFs＇　electrical　properties,　this　study　introduces　an　innovative　approach　that　leverages　leaky-wave　mode　manipulation　to　mitigate　the　TCFs＇　attenuating　effect　and　maximize　the　RF　radiation.　Our　finding　reveals　that　the　precise　control　of　the　mode　confinement　on　glass-coated　TCFs　can　create　a　low-attenuation　window　for　leaky-wave　propagation,　where　the　total　attenuation　caused　by　TCF　dissipation　and　wave　leakage　is　effectively　reduced.　The　observed　low-attenuation　leaky-wave　state　on　lossy　TCFs　originates　from　the　delicate　balance　between　wave　leakage　and　TCF　dissipation,　attained　at　a　particular　glass　cladding　thickness.　By　leveraging　the　substantially　extended　radiation　aperture　achieved　under　suppressed　wave　attenuation,　this　study　develops　an　optically　transparent　antenna　with　an　enhanced　endfire　realized　gain　exceeding　15　dBi　and　a　radiation　efficiency　of　66%,　which　is　validated　to　offer　competitive　transmission　performance　for　advancing　ubiquitous　wireless　communication　and　sensing　applications.　(c)　2024　THE　AUTHORS.　Published　by　Elsevier　LTD　on　behalf　of　Chinese　Academy　of　Engineering　and　Higher　Education　Press　Limited　Company.　This　is　an　open　access　article　under　the　CC　BY-NC-ND　license　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).