Abstract: Ocular diseases affecting the macula or the vasculature of the eye affect a wide variety of individuals. In particular, Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in the developed world and has a significant genetic predisposition. Methods of analyzing one or more mutations in the HtrA1 gene in order to identify individuals with a presusceptability to development of an ocular disease and a pathologic condition of the eye and diagnose those currently suffering from an ocular disease or a pathologic condition of the eye are provided. The methods of the present invention may further include analysis of the CFH gene in order to identify individuals with a presusceptability to development of an ocular disease and a pathologic condition of the eye and diagnose those currently suffering from an ocular disease or a pathologic condition of the eye. Compositions and methods for treating ocular disease and pathologic conditions of the eye are also provided.