Help. unable to see laptop at arm's length but cannot afford glasses for near vision. i am nearsighted?

Presbyopia : At your age, problems with near vision are common, particularly if you are emmetropic (not requiring glasses for driving and other more distant related activities). If you are hyperopic ( requiring glasses for many tasks far and near) you probably would have already be in glasses awhile ago. Now, i'd you are myopic ( near sighted) you wouldl be able to see up close. I'd try some +1.00 readers.