EyePatch case protects, polishes iPhone 5 and 6 cameras

Ever take a selfie on your iPhone only to realize it's blurry or streaky because there's something on the lens? If so, you may be interested in the EyePatch, a case that comes with a simple microfiber-embedded switch that covers both the FaceTime (front-facing) and iSight (rear-facing) cameras. It's available for both iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 (sorry, iPhone 6 Plus users, but it's not ready for your camera quite yet).

The EyePatch case is a soft, flexible silicone rubber cover that fits snugly over the iPhone and protects it from dents, dings and scratches. And a cutout on the back enables you to show off your iPhone's Apple logo, so no one thinks you're using any lesser competitor.

What makes the EyePatch special is the hard plastic switch that sits inside the case. It's a cover switch that protects both the front and rear-facing cameras on the iPhone, then slides easily out of the way so you can take pictures without any trouble.

If you've ever had a selfie ruined because oil from your fingers or face blurred the lens, you know what a bummer it is. And it's something that's impossible to fix with editing software after the fact. The EyePatch switch for the iPhone 6 solves this with a small patch of microfiber that polishes the front lens a little bit as you move it to the open position.

The EyePatch's developer tells me that the protruding lens of the iPhone 6's rear camera makes a polishing cloth there less effective, so there is none; on the iPhone 5 EyeSwitch, microfiber polishes both the front and rear cameras.

In either open or closed positions, the EyePatch switch keeps the iPhone's flash and light sensors uncovered (speaker too), so you can still use your iPhone as a flashlight, hear calls and expect the screen brightness to change automatically, even if the lenses are covered.

There's another practical benefit to the EyeSwitch: If you've ever been concerned with security — say, taking selfies or other pictures accidentally — having a physical cover over the lens stops that from being a problem. If "better safe than sorry" is your mantra, here's a good option.

If you're still using an iPhone 5 or 5S, you have three choices for the case color: Black, white and purple. The company will also sell you separate switches in yellow, white, pink and black if you want to customize your rig. iPhone 6 users can get a white case with black switch or a black case with white switch; iPhone 6 Plus users need to be patient for a while longer before their cases is ready. The company is working on designs for other phones, as well.

To be frank, the silicone case is pretty unremarkable. It fits well, but it feels a bit flabby, as silicone cases often do. It's got a soft-powdered finish that feels nice — though it's a magnet for pocket lint and dirt. It certainly provides an additional layer of protection to keep the phone safe from accidental damage, however.

The EyePatch switch itself works as advertised, protecting the front and rear iPhone lenses when engaged, easily sliding out of the way to keep the lenses unobstructed when I want to shoot a picture. It's nice having a bit of peace of mind that my iPhone 6's camera lenses are protected.