The arrival of a new generation of intraocular lenses and corneal inlays – designed to offer clearer, improved vision without the need for reading glasses – is expected to spur growth in the presbyopia market.

Corporate venture investing has become an increasingly important source of capital as traditional venture firms remained squeezed. In devices, the latest entrant into the field is Abbott Ventures, which sees itself as an extension of Abbott's internal efforts to build its device pipeline, favoring mid-stage deals in technology and therapeutic areas that fit strategically with Abbott's existing device businesses.

Corporate venture investing has become an increasingly important source of capital as traditional venture firms remained squeezed. In devices, the latest entrant into the field is Abbott Ventures, which sees itself as an extension of Abbott's internal efforts to build its device pipeline, favoring mid-stage deals in technology and therapeutic areas that fit strategically with Abbott's existing device businesses.

Anyone with access to the right data can tell you which technologies and medical specialties are commanding the highest valuations from device VCs. But what would it be worth to know which companies will be commanding the top prices in the next year? A survey of more than a dozen VCs--who participated with a promise of anonymity--with money to invest draws a very clear picture about what investment opportunities they might find worth fighting over and the areas they'll ignore.