If you are licensed as a Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) you can refract patients under an MD's license.
In Oregon, you can't refract under and OD's license, even if you are COT.
Refracting Optician? I don't know about that. Usually opticians are sales oriented and work in a dispensary and technicians do pretesting for the doctors and are not on the sales floor.
Hey ... COT's make LOTS of money! Like 40 to 50K. You also can assist in ophthalmic surgery.
I'm not sure what kind of a degree you'd need. Maybe Associates. Don't think Bacc. is needed. You may need some sort of low-level nursing degree like a CNA. Not sure.
Good Luck.