They don't. They are the same.
A radio telescope detects light in the form of radio waves and a refracting telescope detects light in the visible wavelengths
It is called a refracting telescope.
Yes, a telescope with incoming light passing through glass does refract. The glass lenses or mirrors in a telescope refract light as it passes through, focusing the light to form an image.
Refracting telescope.
It gathers the light coming from an object.
Concave Mirrors
A refracting telescope is a type of telescope that has a large thin lense at the front and a smaller thicker lense at the end where the eyepiece is. Refracting telescopes use lenses unlike reflecting telescopes that use mirrors to reflect the light. This is a good image of a refracting and reflecting telescope: [See related link]
"Optical", in this case, simply means that they work with light.
Refracting Telescope.
The telescope you are referring to is likely a refracting telescope. In a refracting telescope, light enters through an objective lens which bends the light rays to a focal point where the image is formed. This type of telescope is commonly used in astronomy and for terrestrial viewing.
simplest possible telescope
a refracting telescope