An inventive method for treatment or prevention of vascular diseases of the retina is provided. A Norrin compound is optionally administered to a subject either directly and/or as expressed by a cell. The presence of the compound is either protective of or therapeutic for a pathological condition of the retina. Preferred pathological conditions are those linked to the absence of or mutation of norrin protein and are preferably Norrie disease, FEVR, or macular degeneration.
