Despite the greatest care of my original lens cap my Canon EFS_18_55 is now at last been lost. I had always feared and thus not happen to me again, I bought this cover with the retaining cord. At first glance it looks as if this cover could be applied to the lens of the lens, at least, the gap is obviously closer than the original. It's still enough space. I've tested with a cut-off piece of an old debit card which I have put in the gap. When the lens vertically holds (lid down !!!), you can hear in mild exercise, such as moves between specified plastic pieces. Even with slight pressure on the lid that works yet. So there is no danger, the cover does not touch the lens. The lanyard may be a little longer, so that the cover can remain plugged even with an attached genuine Canon lens hood. But if you (not the strap) attached the cord directly to the eyelet on the camera body, it's just like that. I highly recommend this cover.