Thus, the second aim was to assess the role of pro- and antiangiogenic factors in a group of patients with SSc in comparison with healthy control by evaluation the concentration of MMP-2, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), VEGF, and sVEGFR-2 in blood serum and tears. Here, MMP9 is linked to systemic sclerosis.