Among these, SNP-associations at the GLI3, DCLK1, SP4, PTPRD,RPL30 and RIDA genes were replicated in an independent Hispanic diabetic retinopathy (DR) cohort and thus shared within the context of pre-retinal neovascular disease which is present in both ROP ≥ stage 3 and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The gene discussed is DCLK1; the disease is proliferative diabetic retinopathy.