Start with whether you will be wearing contact lenses, then choose the cooling sensation. V Rohto Gold40 has three standard versions and two Contact versions. A higher cooling number does not mean a stronger treatment, and the Contact formula is not simply the same drops in a different box.
I'm Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. For these similar gold packages, the quickest useful check is the full name, lens compatibility and labelled dose.
Current Japanese manufacturer information and leaflets checked on October 13, 2026. All five products below are 20 mL, Class 3 OTC medicines. This is an adult shopping guide; read the instructions in your own pack before use.
Choose the lens branch first
The cooling numbers below describe the manufacturer's sensation scale, not medicine strength. None of the three standard versions may be used while wearing soft contact lenses. The two Contact versions permit soft, hard and oxygen-permeable lenses, except coloured contact lenses.
| Product and Japanese shelf name | Lens rule | Cooling sensation |
|---|---|---|
| V Rohto Gold40 Mild（Vロートゴールド40マイルド） | No soft lenses during use; hard-lens discomfort is a labelled indication | 0: no cooling sensation |
| V Rohto Gold40, regular（Vロートゴールド40） | No soft lenses during use; hard-lens discomfort is a labelled indication | 5 |
| V Rohto Gold40 Refreshing MAX（Vロートゴールド40爽快MAX） | No soft lenses during use; hard-lens discomfort is a labelled indication | 8 |
| V Rohto Gold40 Contact Mild（Vロートゴールド40コンタクトマイルド） | Compatible with the lens types above, excluding coloured lenses; also usable without lenses | 0: no cooling sensation |
| V Rohto Gold40 Contact（Vロートゴールド40コンタクト） | Compatible with the lens types above, excluding coloured lenses; also usable without lenses | 5 |
Standard versions: the same active formula, different cooling
Mild, regular and Refreshing MAX list the same six active ingredients at the same concentrations: taurine 1%, neostigmine methylsulfate 0.005%, d-α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) 0.05%, vitamin B6 0.1%, potassium L-aspartate 1% and chlorpheniramine maleate 0.03%. These are labelled concentrations in the eye-drop solution, not amounts per drop. Their labelled uses include eye fatigue, blurred vision associated with excess discharge, itching and redness. Choose the cooling sensation you are comfortable with after checking suitability; MAX is not evidence of better relief.
Contact versions: a separate formula
Contact Mild and Contact share their own six-active formula. Taurine 1% and neostigmine methylsulfate 0.005% are the same as in the standard branch. The other labelled concentrations are sodium chondroitin sulfate 0.5% in place of potassium L-aspartate, d-α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) 0.03%, vitamin B6 0.05% and chlorpheniramine maleate 0.02%. This is a formulation difference, not a reliable “stronger or weaker” ranking. Both are labelled for eye fatigue, itching, blurred vision associated with excess discharge and lens-related discomfort, among other uses.
Dose and the point to stop are different
These are the labelled drops at each use and number of uses per day, not the whole day's drop total. The leaflets do not specify a numerical minimum age; children require an adult's guidance and supervision. For a child, confirm suitability rather than assuming “40” is an age rule.
| Branch | Drops at each use | Uses per day | Stop and seek advice if symptoms do not improve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard: Mild, regular, Refreshing MAX | 2–3 drops | 5–6 times | After about 2 weeks |
| Contact Mild and Contact | 1–3 drops | 5–6 times | After 5–6 days |
If blurred vision does not improve, stop and seek advice without waiting for those time limits. Also stop immediately for a suspected reaction such as a rash, skin itching, eye redness, swelling, itching or stinging pain. Persistent blur should not be dismissed as ordinary ageing; these drops are not a treatment for cataracts or a way to correct presbyopia.
Keep the nozzle clean and close the cap securely
- Check your exact version and remove any lenses that are not permitted during use.
- Turn the cap left to open. Use the labelled number of drops without letting the nozzle touch your eye, eyelid or eyelashes.
- Turn the cap right until it clicks closed. Do not share the bottle, add anything to it or transfer the drops to another container.
Ask before buying if you have pain or an eye condition
Speak with a doctor, pharmacist or registered seller before use if:
- You are receiving medical treatment.
- You have had an allergic reaction to a medicine or similar product.
- You have severe eye pain.
- You have been diagnosed with glaucoma.
Use only as eye drops; do not use cloudy liquid. Keep tightly closed in a cool place away from sunlight and children. Do not leave the bottle in a hot car or near a heater, especially at 40°C or above. Stay within the printed expiry. After opening, the standard versions should be used promptly; the Contact versions give 2–3 months as a guide when stored as directed, even if the printed expiry is later.
My shelf-check shortcut: lens compatibility → exact suffix → comfortable cooling → the correct drop count and stop window. Buying several cooling versions does not add a different active formula within the same branch. If blur persists or your eyes are painful, assessment is more useful than moving up the cooling scale.
