AIM: To explore the protective effect of zeaxanthin on human limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells against UV-radiation and excessive oxidative stress. METHODS: Human limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells were isolated from cadaver and cultured in vitro. They were challenged with UVB radiation and H2O2 with and without zeaxanthin pretreatment. Cell viability, p38 and c-JUN NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. RESULTS: Zeaxanthin had no measurable cytotoxicity on limbal or conjunctival epithelial cells when used at concentrations of 5 μg/mL and below. At 30 mJ/cm2 UVB, the pretreatment of zeaxanthin increased the percentage of live cells from 50% to 69% (P=0.01) and from 66% to 75% (P=0.05) for limbal and conjunctival epithelial cells, respectively. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in the culture medium reduced to 66% (for IL-6 and MCP-1) and 56% (for IL-8) of the levels without zeaxanthin. This was accompanied by reduced p38 and JNK protein phosphorylation. Pretreatment of zeaxanthin also reduced intracellular MDA content caused by H2O2 stimulation from 0.86 μmol/L to 0.52 μmol/L (P=0.02) in limbal epithelial cells and from 0.96 μmol/L to 0.56 μmol/L in conjunctival epithelial cells (P=0.03). However, zeaxanthin did not have significant effect on H2O2-induced cell death in limbal or conjunctival epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: Zeaxanthin is an effective reagent in reducing the detrimental effect of UV-radiation and oxidative stress on ocular surface epithelial cells.