Increased Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Concentrations in Corneal Epithelium of Patients with Recurrent Corneal Erosions

Table 1

Patient characteristics.

Variable	Group			value (1A vs. 1B)
	1A; n = 22	1B; n = 34	2; n = 65
Sex; W, n; %; M, n; %	15; 20.8%; 7; 14.3%	17; 23.6%; 17; 34.7%	40; 55.6%; 25; 51%	0.3
Age (years)	54.44 ± 15.0	36.2 ± 9.7	28 ± 5.6	<0.001
Age at RCE onset (years)	51.9 ± 14.8	33.3 ± 8.2	n/a	<0.001
Pre-PTK symptom duration (months)	24 (12–46)	19.5 (7–31)	n/a	0.3
Epithelial instability; Yes, n; %; No, n; %	9; 41%; 13; 59%	9; 26%; 25; 74%	n/a	0.2
Cause of injury; Finger, n; %; Other, n; %	n/a	14; 41%; 20; 58%	n/a	n/a

n/a, not applicable; W, women; M, men; RCE, recurrent corneal erosions.