For instance, the higher proportion of patients with SS-dry eye than non-SS had lower tear TSP-1 levels (55% vs. 29%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.64 to 5.35, p  <  0.05) and higher tear MMP-9 levels (65% vs. 24%, 95% CI = 4.46 to 19.81, p  <  0.05). Here, MMP9 is linked to dry eye syndrome.