Corneal melting is tissue devastating process characterized by gradual stromal thinning due to the destruction of the extracellular matrix, which is often linked to over-expression and increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases( MMPs).Our study demonstrates increased expression of MMP-1,-2,-3,-7,-8 and -9 as well as the elevated activity of MMP-1,-2,3- and -9 in melted corneas from patients with different undrerlying pathologies,wich shows important role of these enzyme in such a tissue destruction disorder.