SmoothEye® Laser, Charleston SC

Reviewed by Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, ABAAHP | A4M Board Certified | Updated October 4, 2026

A gentle laser for crinkly skin and fine lines around the eyes. Here is what it can soften, what it leaves alone, and how little research there is so far.

SmoothEye at Solcara Health in Charleston and Mount Pleasant is a gentle erbium laser treatment for fine lines and thin, crinkly skin around the eyes. It warms the skin without removing the surface, it is done as a short series of visits, and it works best on lines you can see when your face is at rest, not on puffy bags, deep hollows, or most dark circles.[1][2]

The research behind it is encouraging but small. The main published study followed 30 people for a year and found shallower lines, with mild redness and a few days of light peeling after each visit.[1] That study had no comparison group, and one of its authors works for the laser's maker.[1] We think that is worth knowing before you book, so this page lays out what the laser can change, what it cannot, and which other options, from our other laser treatments to injectables, may fit your eyes better.

Key takeaways

SmoothEye uses an erbium (Er:YAG) laser in a non-ablative setting, meaning it heats the skin instead of vaporizing the top layer, so recovery is short.[1][3]
In one study of 30 adults, three sessions four weeks apart made periorbital wrinkles shallower, and the change held at the one-year check.[1]
Most people in that study had redness for a few hours and light peeling for about two to six days after each session.[1]
Under-eye bags, hollows, and dark circles have several different causes. A laser addresses some of them, while fillers, peels, neurotoxins, or surgery suit others.[2][7]
Eye protection is not optional. In a review of laser eye injuries, most cases involved shields that were missing or removed.[6]
Darker skin can be treated, but it carries a higher risk of dark marks after laser work, so settings and spacing matter.[4][5]

Section 01 / The mechanism

What SmoothEye does to the skin around your eyes

Lasers used on the face fall into two families. Ablative lasers, including standard erbium and CO2 resurfacing, vaporize the outer layers of skin and usually need a few weeks of recovery.[3] Non-ablative lasers heat the deeper layers instead, which prompts the skin to build new collagen with much less downtime, though they usually take a series of treatments to show a result.[3] SmoothEye is the non-ablative use of an erbium laser, set to deliver long, low-energy pulses that warm the skin rather than peel it away.

The eyelid has some of the thinnest skin on the body, which is one reason it creases early and one reason clinicians are careful with lasers here.[1] The erbium wavelength is absorbed very close to the surface, and the study authors argue that this shallow reach suits treatment near the eyes better than deeper-reaching lasers.[1] In the published protocol, the laser passed over the upper lid and then the lower lid while the other eye stayed covered with wet gauze.[1]

What it is aiming for is modest and gradual: smoother texture and softer fine lines as collagen remodels over weeks. It does not lift a heavy brow, remove fat pads, or change the bone and volume structure that creates a shadowed look.

The short video below was produced by Fotona, the company that makes the laser, and shows the procedure being performed. It is promotional material from the manufacturer, so treat it as a look at the process rather than as evidence of results.

Made by Fotona, the company that builds the laser. About three and a half minutes. It shows how the treatment is done; it is not independent evidence of results.

Section 02 / Match the concern

Lines, bags, hollows, and dark circles: which ones a laser can reach

People often use “tired eyes” to mean four different things, and each one has a different cause. A 2026 systematic review of 50 studies on under-eye treatment described the area's problems as a mix of volume loss, pigment changes, visible blood vessels, and loose skin.[2] Those can appear alone or together, which is why one device rarely solves the whole picture.

A real, lasting change in one small study. Promising, but not yet confirmed against a control group.

Under-eye concern	Common cause	Where SmoothEye fits	Options that may fit better
Fine lines and crepey skin at rest	Thin skin and collagen loss	A reasonable fit; this is what the main study measured[1]	Ablative resurfacing for deeper lines, with more downtime[3]
Crow's feet when you smile	Squinting muscle activity	Limited; a laser does not relax muscle	Neurotoxin injections are FDA-labeled for these lines[7]
Hollows and shadowing	Volume loss	Not a fix for lost volume	Filler is the usual first option[2]
Puffy bags	Fat pushing forward, weak lid support	Not a fix	Surgery is often preferred[2]
Brown or bluish darkness	Pigment or visible vessels	Not what SmoothEye targets	Peels, topicals, or other lasers, chosen by cause[2]

Before your eye-area consult

Which of these describe your eyes?

Tap any that fit. This does not decide whether you need treatment. It helps you and Ashley start with the right concern and the right questions.

The review found that fillers remain the foundation for volume loss, chemical peels and topical products help surface discoloration (see our hyperpigmentation page), and surgery is preferred when fat is bulging or lower-lid support is poor.[2] For crow's feet that deepen when you smile, onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox Cosmetic) is FDA-labeled for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe lines linked to the ring-shaped muscle around the eye.[7] SmoothEye earns its place for the first row in the table: fine, static lines and crinkly texture. If your main concern lives in another row, we will say so.

What SmoothEye can reasonably do

Soften fine lines and crinkly texture visible at rest, through gentle heat and a series of visits, with a few hours of redness and a few days of light peeling. In one 30-person study the change held at one year.

What it gets oversold for

Erasing dark circles, removing puffy bags, filling hollows, or a dramatic change after one visit. Those problems have other causes, and the evidence for this laser is one small study with no control group.

Section 03 / The evidence

What the 30-person study found, and what it did not test

The best evidence we found for this exact treatment is a prospective study published in Lasers in Medical Science in 2022.[1] Thirty adults aged 33 to 73, mostly women, had three non-ablative erbium sessions four weeks apart for static wrinkles and mild laxity around the eyes.[1] The lead investigator scored wrinkle depth on a 0 to 5 scale, and the average fell from 4.0 at the start to 2.5 one year after the last session, in the 28 people who returned.[1] Three doctors who did not know which photos came first correctly picked the “before” and “after” images every time.[1]

Most people were pleased. Still, one person rated their wrinkles as worse at one year, and two improved without moving up a full wrinkle class.[1] On side effects, about nine in ten had redness lasting 2 to 12 hours, up to about two in three had mild swelling, and nearly all had light skin peeling for two to six days.[1] No one had scarring or lasting changes.[1]

Here is what keeps us cautious. There was no untreated or sham group, so some of the change could reflect time, skin care, or expectation.[1] The authors named that gap themselves, along with the lack of an objective measuring device.[1] One author is affiliated with Fotona.[1] The study was also small. A single promising study of 30 people is a reason to try it with clear expectations, not proof that it will work the same way for everyone.

Not sure if your under-eye concern is lines, volume, or pigment? Call 843-981-0870. Ashley will look at your eyes in person, explain what is causing the change you see, and tell you whether SmoothEye, another treatment, or nothing at all is the better call.

Section 04 / Eye and skin safety

Protecting your eyes and your skin tone

Any laser near the eye carries a risk to the eye itself. A review of 21 reported cases of eye injury during facial cosmetic laser work found that treating the eyelids and the area around them raises the risk.[6] In more than 62% of those cases, eye protection was not used or was taken off to reach skin close to the eye.[6] Injuries also happened in about a third of cases even with proper shields, and the reviewers named high energy settings and too little cooling between pulses as added risks.[6]

Skin tone matters too. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that lasers can be used on all skin types but that darker skin is more prone to burns and dark marks afterward.[4] A meta-analysis of 43 studies of non-ablative laser and energy treatments in people with darker skin types found that post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a patch of darkening after treatment, was the most common side effect, at 8.1%.[5] The risk rose with darker skin and with more energy delivered.[5]

The AAD also advises telling your clinician about every product, medicine, and supplement you use, since some make skin more sensitive to laser light.[4] You may be asked to pause topical retinoids, stop smoking, or take an antiviral first, and to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.[4] Results depend largely on the skill of the person holding the laser.[4]

Section 05 / At Solcara

Your SmoothEye series at Solcara

A first visit is a conversation and an eye-area exam, not an automatic treatment. Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, who is board certified in anti-aging and functional medicine (A4M) and holds the ABAAHP credential, looks at which of the concerns in the table you actually have, asks about medications, cold sores, eye conditions, and recent injections, and tells you plainly whether SmoothEye is a good match.

If it is, treatment uses a Fotona erbium laser in its gentle SMOOTH setting. We apply a medical-grade numbing cream first, and SmoothEye typically causes warmth and mild discomfort rather than real pain. Whoever treats you, eye protection should stay in place for the whole session. SmoothEye is done as a series, and Ashley sets the number of visits and their spacing based on your skin; the study used three sessions about a month apart.[1]

Afterward, expect some pinkness for a few hours and possibly fine peeling for several days, which is easy to cover with moisturizer.[1] Avoid tanning, keep up daily sunscreen, and let us know about any blistering, darkening, or eye irritation right away.[4] SmoothEye at Solcara includes ALASTIN Restorative Eye Treatment for your at-home care.

Appointments are available at our Mount Pleasant office at 496 Bramson Ct, Ste 120, and at The Longevity Club, 163 Rutledge Ave, Ste 202, in downtown Charleston.

Laser Services

See how SmoothEye compares with the other lasers we offer. Read Laser Services.

Neurotoxins

For crow's feet that show up when you smile or squint. Read Neurotoxins.

Fillers

For hollows and shadowing caused by lost volume. Read Fillers.

ALASTIN Skincare

What the eye product in your aftercare kit is. Read ALASTIN Skincare.

Ask Ashley

Ashley Harwyn, PA-C PA-C, ABAAHP · Founder, Solcara Health Online

Tap a question to ask

Does SmoothEye hurt? Most people feel warmth and mild discomfort rather than sharp pain. We apply a medical-grade numbing cream before the session, and in the published study a numbing cream was left on for 30 minutes and then wiped off before the laser started. The skin may feel warm and look pink for a few hours afterward. If you are very sensitive to heat or have had a rough experience with lasers before, tell us so we can go slower.

How much downtime should I plan for? Usually very little, though not zero. In the main study, nearly everyone had redness for a few hours and light flaking of the skin for about two to six days after each session. The peeling is usually light enough to manage with moisturizer, and the study authors described the downtime as minimal. It is a good idea not to schedule a treatment right before a wedding, photo shoot, or other big event.

Will SmoothEye get rid of my dark circles? Probably not on its own. Dark circles come from different causes, including pigment, visible blood vessels, and shadowing from lost volume, and SmoothEye mainly targets fine lines and crinkly skin texture. Pigment may respond better to peels or topical products, and hollowing usually responds better to filler. We look at what is causing your darkness first and then suggest the treatment that matches it, which may not be a laser.

How long do the results last? In the 30-person study, the improvement in wrinkle depth was still present one year after the final session, and most people kept the same wrinkle class between their last visit and that check. Longer follow-up was not reported. Skin keeps aging, sun exposure keeps damaging collagen, and lines from muscle movement keep forming, so many people plan occasional maintenance and stay strict about sunscreen.

Is SmoothEye safe for darker skin? It can be done, but with extra care. The AAD notes that darker skin is more prone to burns and dark marks after laser treatment, and a large review of non-ablative lasers in darker skin types found post-inflammatory darkening in about 8% of treated people, with higher rates at higher energy. We adjust settings and talk through sun protection and skin preparation before any session.

Can I combine SmoothEye with Botox or filler? Often, yes, because they work on different problems. A neurotoxin relaxes the muscle that creates crow's feet when you smile, filler replaces lost volume under the eye, and SmoothEye works on the texture of the skin itself. Timing matters, so we plan the order and spacing of treatments together rather than stacking them on the same day without a reason.

Find out what is really behind your tired-looking eyes

Book an eye-area consult with Ashley. Bring a list of your skin products and medications, and photos if your concern comes and goes.

BOOK A CONSULTATION →

Or call 843-981-0870

About the author

Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, founder of Solcara Health in Charleston, South Carolina.

Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, ABAAHP

Founder, Solcara Health · Diplomate, American Board of Anti-Aging Health Practitioners (ABAAHP)

Ashley has practiced medicine for more than fifteen years. Her path into it began at home, with a family member born with a congenital heart defect and a childhood spent watching how much the quality of a clinician's attention could change the shape of a life. She has since practiced across a range of settings, including medical mission work in Uganda, before founding Solcara to build the kind of practice she kept wishing existed, one that treats patients as whole people and tells them the truth about what the evidence does and does not support.

Full bio →

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, and reading it does not create a patient-provider relationship. It describes general medical information and categories of care, not a recommendation that any individual start, stop, or change any test, treatment, or medication. Any diagnosis or treatment decision requires evaluation by a qualified, licensed clinician who knows your personal and family history. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before making medical decisions. Information reflects sources available as of October 4, 2026.

Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, ABAAHP, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging Health Practitioners (ABAAHP) through A4M and the founder of Solcara Health. Solcara serves South Carolina from Downtown Charleston (163 Rutledge Ave, Ste 202, The Longevity Club) and Mt. Pleasant (496 Bramson Ct, Ste 120).

visit our ZO store

Shop ALASTIN Skincare^®