Having worn contact lenses for a few years now, I feel like I am in a good position to review the universal barrel style cases that have come about in recent years. I remember growing up and seeing my mum use the old cases which are horizontal, the screw top cases, and now its all about these vertical barrel cases, but let me delve further.

In terms of price these can be found for around £2 on eBay or Amazon, however I must say that usually you get a case with each solution, so it would make more sense to just get it with the solution, unless of course you have too much spare solution, so I guess that is the main reason for getting a case by itself.

The cases generally come with the left and right eye part of the barrel marked. Usually with the right eye compartment saying R and the left side having a heart sign on it, and this seems to be a universal theme. There is a slight bump in each compartment which makes it a bit easier for you to place your lenses over it and then you have to shut the lid, whilst making sure you do not catch any of the lens and cause damage.

I have to say compared to the old cases this does seem to have a lot more wastage, they keep the barrels located quite high up so you have to put quite a lot of solution in to cover the whole lenses. Before with he screw top cases you could just plop a little bit of the solution and then it would cover the lenses and job done, but not quite the case here.

I must mention though that there are two types of barrel cases, you have the normal barrel case, which is similar to the screw top and if anything it is more of a waste due to the extra solution needed. However where I do think this case is useful if the barrel cases with a catalyst. This is a little black section added to the bottom and is to be used with the multi peroxide solution. This is a much deeper form of cleaning the lenses and is it literally bubbles and formulates around the lens, and you can see this as soon as you put the solution in and the reaction with the black catalyst. However the downside here is that you must wait six hours for the solution to completely neutralise before you can wear them again.

I must make it clear that you have to wait six hours, I can talk from experience and say that once I forgot and after three hours I put one of the lenses in my eye, and let's just say I was in excruciating pain. Needles to say it was a lesson well learnt and I always wait the six hours. However the other downside is after around 30 times using this type of case, you need to change them as the catalyst becomes less effective, and they are a little more expensive at £3, so potential you be spending £36 a year on catalyst cases,

Overall I would give these barrel cases three stars, as they have a purpose, whether they are an improvement over the screw top cases is to be debated and I think you will find mixed reviews with some people swearing by it and others not so much. Myself I think due to the extra wastage of solution that the screw top is better, but the catalyst version definitely has its uses for deeper cleansing so simply due to this, the cases are something that have to be considered.