(a) It shall be the duty of the Governor to appoint a State Board of Optometry to consist of six members. This board shall be appointed by the Governor and styled the "State Board of Optometry." All appointments to the board shall be subject to the confirmation of the Senate. One of the members shall be appointed from the public at large and shall have no connection whatsoever with the profession or practice of optometry. The remaining five members shall be persons who have been actively engaged in the practice of optometry in the state for five years immediately preceding such appointment, shall be registered as optometrists under this chapter, and shall be qualified to use pharmaceutical agents for diagnostic and treatment purposes as authorized under this chapter.

(b) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the board who is connected in any way with a school teaching optometry or who sells optical goods at wholesale.