Product information checked: 17 September 2026
Silver, gold, green and blue: the Sante FX shelf looks simple until you try to choose. Start with whether you are wearing contact lenses, then separate tired eyes from allergy-related itching. We’ll compare four Japanese products and match them to the real packages, including the one your family asked you to find.
Let’s look at this shelf together
I’m Irene. This is not a “cooler means better” ranking. NEO and V Plus belong together, AL focuses on allergies, and CONTACT has different lens compatibility. Once that map is clear, the shelf is much easier to read.
Choose in 3 minutes: lenses first, then symptoms
FX products do different jobs. First check whether you are wearing contact lenses, then separate tired or red eyes from allergy-related itching.
CONTACT / CL
Look for the blue コンタクト box. It can be used with regular soft and hard lenses, but not coloured contact lenses.
NEO / V PLUS
They share the base ingredients; V PLUS adds B6. Cooling is rated 5 for NEO and 5+ for V PLUS—not an effectiveness score. Do not use either while wearing soft lenses.
AL
The green box combines cromoglicate for allergy reactions with an antihistamine. It is an allergy product, not a gentler NEO. Do not use it while wearing any contact lenses.
Irene’s tip: More cooling does not mean better treatment. Severe eye pain or affected vision needs medical assessment, not a stronger cooling sensation. This guide covers the Japanese versions.
At the shelf: match the words as well as the colors
Save this box comparison before your drugstore visit. At the shelf, match the full Japanese name, then check the form and pack size. Photos are not to scale; image size does not show pack size.
All four contain 12 mL. NEO, V Plus and AL are Class 2 OTC medicines; CONTACT is Class 3. Bottle designs can change, so check the full name and NEO, V+, AL or CL on the box. Cap color alone is not enough.
サンテFXネオ
Look for: NEO
サンテFX Vプラス
Look for: V＋
サンテFX AL
Look for: AL
サンテFX コンタクト
Look for: CL / コンタクト
Product photos: Santen’s official foreign-language product information page. Photos are not shown to scale; sources are at the end.
What the ingredient differences mean for your choice
NEO vs V Plus: the shared formula and the added B6
Both contain neostigmine methylsulfate to support eye focusing, taurine and potassium L-aspartate. They also contain the antihistamine chlorpheniramine, the anti-inflammatory ingredient epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and tetrahydrozoline for redness. V Plus adds 0.1% vitamin B6. Compare that formula difference, cooling preference and price instead of assuming gold is automatically the better choice.
| Active ingredient concentration | NEO | V Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Neostigmine methylsulfate | 0.005% | 0.005% |
| Taurine | 1% | 1% |
| Potassium L-aspartate | 1% | 1% |
| Tetrahydrozoline HCl | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Chlorpheniramine maleate | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| ε-Aminocaproic acid | 1% | 1% |
| Vitamin B6 | Not an active ingredient | 0.1% |
NEO and V Plus contain the vasoconstrictor tetrahydrozoline. Do not keep adding drops to make your eyes look white; overuse can cause redness or unusual glare.
AL vs CONTACT: different jobs, not different strengths
AL: sodium cromoglicate 1% and chlorpheniramine 0.03% address allergic responses and symptoms such as itching. It also contains epsilon-aminocaproic acid 1%, taurine 1% and potassium L-aspartate 1%. It is intended for allergic eye symptoms from sources such as pollen and house dust; not every red eye is an allergy.
CONTACT: taurine 1%, potassium L-aspartate 1%, panthenol 0.1% and epsilon-aminocaproic acid 1%. Its uses include discomfort while wearing contact lenses and tired eyes. It does not contain the vasoconstrictor in NEO and V Plus; it is a different formula, not just NEO in blue.
Contact lenses and cooling: the useful comparison
| Product | With soft lenses on | With hard lenses on | Cooling rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEO | No | Yes | 5 |
| V PLUS | No | Yes | 5+ |
| AL | No | No | 5+ |
| CONTACT | Yes, except colored | Yes, except colored | 5 |
All four have a strong cooling sensation. If you dislike that feeling, ask for “清涼感のない目薬” — eye drops without a cooling sensation — rather than forcing a choice from this range.
Directions differ: check the bottle you chose
| Product | Drops per use | Times per day | If not improving |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEO / V PLUS | 2–3 drops | 5–6 | Stop and seek advice after 5–6 days |
| AL | 1–2 drops | 4–6 | Stop and seek advice after 2 days |
| CONTACT | 1–3 drops | 5–6 | Stop and seek advice after about 2 weeks |
For AL, seek advice before continuing beyond two weeks even if symptoms improve. Persistent blurred vision, worsening symptoms or reactions such as rash or swelling need attention sooner. Children require adult supervision; the leaflets do not give one common minimum age, which should not be read as suitability for every age.
A few habits that matter on your trip
- Glaucoma, severe eye pain, medical treatment or medicine allergies: seek advice before use. AL also needs prior advice during pregnancy, allergy treatment or when the cause is unclear; one-sided symptoms or affected vision need medical assessment.
- Clean hands and a clean bottle tip: do not touch the eye or lashes, share the bottle, or transfer drops to another container. Close it after use and keep it out of hot cars and direct sun.
- Use promptly after opening: CONTACT gives a guide of about three months; the other three say to use promptly. All must be used before expiry. Three months is not a uniform rule for the whole range.
- AL combined with nasal medicines: its leaflet warns that this combination may cause sleepiness, so do not drive or operate machinery. Check combinations with other eye drops or allergy medicines.
Your final shelf check
- Match NEO, V+, AL or CL — not just FX.
- Check which lenses you are wearing and whether this product allows use with them.
- Read the dose and save the package photo. For a family request, confirm the exact letters after FX.
Choose the right version and get back to your trip
A photo of gold V Plus gives you something specific to find. Show it and say 「この目薬はありますか？」 — “Do you have these eye drops?” That is a practical way to spend less time translating a shelf.
Questions before you buy or use it
Is gold V Plus always better than silver NEO?
No. They share six active ingredients; V Plus adds 0.1% B6 and has a different cooling rating. Suitability still depends on the intended use, lenses and individual circumstances.
Which one can I use while wearing contacts?
CONTACT allows soft and hard lenses, except colored lenses. NEO and V Plus must not be used with soft lenses on. AL must not be used with any contact lenses on.
Is AL the gentle version?
No. AL is an allergy formula with a cooling rating of 5+. It is not a mild version or a general solution for every eye problem.
Can I use CONTACT without wearing lenses?
Yes. Its approved uses also include tired eyes. Follow one to three drops per use, five to six times daily, and its precautions.
Does stronger cooling mean stronger treatment?
No. Cooling is a sensation rating, not an effectiveness ranking. Overuse of NEO or V Plus can cause redness or unusual glare.
Sources and photo credits
Product facts and directions refer to the Japanese products. Official photographs support the comparisons and package identification in this guide; the package artwork has not been redrawn. Match the full Japanese name and the leaflet supplied with your pack, as designs and sizes can change.
