AIM: To study the effect of renalase peptide, RP-220, on cell viability of human corneal epithelial cells after alkali insult. METHODS: A dose-response relationship between cell viability and exposure to NaOH solution were characterized using cultured human corneal epithelial cells. Viability of corneal epithelial cells was determined using commercially available MTT and CyQUANT® assays. RESULTS: At a concentration of 6 mmol/L, insult with NaOH leads to reduced corneal epithelial cell viability by approximately 30%. This reduced viability was prevented by treating the cells after initial insult with the 20-amino acid renalase derived peptide (RP-220). CONCLUSION: RP-220 has a pro-survival role for RP-220 following alkaline insult to corneal epithelial cells.