Is macular degeneration a genetic problem which can be passed on?

I know of several families with 3-4 members who have the problem

I have been told that the gene which causes macular degeneration must be passed on by both parents. Is this correct

When both parents carry the mutated gene and a normal gene, there is a 25% chance that their offspring can inherit both mutated genes and therefore develop macular dystrophy/degeneration. More than one family member may develop Stargardt鈥檚. The other 75% of offspring may carry the recessive gene and would in turn affect their children if they marry someone with the recessive gene or someone who has macular dystrophy/degeneration.
These macular dystrophies all have different genetic patterns or ways of inheritance. Some may be passed on in a dominant pattern, others as a recessive pattern and still others as an x-linked trait carried by females and affecting males only. For many with recessive inheritance patterns, it comes often as a surprise because a family might never have known anyone in their family history who was affected. For those of a dominant pattern, it may be quite different as some persons of generation after generation are affected

My mom has it and her Dr said that it was hereditary.. I

It is genetic, Though the macular degeneration can occur as part of other diseases as well.